Cé - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 6, 1998 ona Ee EE ELE Ra Ur a AN Coie FRBC at work = “orests — jeter : History comes alive on island guided tour FAR DOWN the passage the island is visible _ ‘through the mist. Tall hemlocks and cedars frame a beach of crushed slate and broken clam shells. - The year is AD 200. Clusters of cedar- ‘plank houses are visible among the trees. Families harvest herring roe along the shore, and longboats can be seen darting from the island to adjacent villages-in Metlakatla Pass. Fast forward to 1997, Lax Spa Aws (‘sand and gravel island’ in the Tsimshian language, “Smalygx) is still there, but the plank houses have ‘been reclaimed by the forest. The people are ‘gone. Only depressions remdin on the forest flaor, marking where their homes stood. And along the beach, petroglyphs — racks ‘carved with faces, animals and fantastic creatures ‘from legend — held an enigmatic message for fu- ture visitors. — But on the southeast approach to the island, a $90,000 dock has just been completed, A new -woodchip trail weaves through the forest, leading .visitors to the village sites.and the petroglyphs. And two solar composting , ‘outhouses blend dis- cretely into their surroundings, to accommodate the groups that will soon start artiving for daily ‘tours conducted by local Tsimshian guides. “The island provides a combination of ar- chaeological sites and a bealitiful natural setting,” said archaeologist David Afcher. He was the one who proposed the recreational development of ‘Lax Spa Aws — known locally as Pike Island — to Harold Leighton, general manager of the Met- -Jakatla Development Corpofation. Leighton and the directors of the corporation agreed, and the project was launched with a $34,000 grant from B.C. Heritage Trust. It moved into high gear when Metlakatla Development's proposal to Forest Renewal BC was approved, securing $265,000 to develop the island for regu- lar tours. Lax Spa Aws, one of 200 archaeological sites recorded by Archer in the Prince Rupert area, is only a half-hour boat trip from the popular coastal city, Visitors will sign up for the trip at the Muse- ‘um of Northern B.C. ih Prince Rupert, and their tour will include information about local flora and fauna as well as the customs of the people who lived on the island. : In addition to providing employment and “revenue, “The recreation development on Lax - Spa Aws also makes the island more accessible'to ‘the people of Medakatla,’’ said tour guide Tony PIKE ISLAND, or Lax Spa Aws in the Tsim- shian language which means “sand and gravel island”, near Prince Rupert is the loca- tion of a Forest Renewal B.C, project to de- velop trails for guided tours giving Information on past residents and the island itself. Yorke. He has often brought his children to the is- land, but until the trails were built, the dense ua- dergrowth made it too difficult to visit the village sites. Now families can go there and impart a bit of history to the younger kids. And for tour guide Charlene McLean, the island is a spiritual place. “I can feel the presence of our history here,’ she said. *‘It still has strength and power. It's where we come from.”’ Article and photo provided by Forest Renewal B.C, ~ Gakelse “Air "3752 Highway 16 East, Terrace B.C. V8G 5J3 Office: (250) 635-3245 / Fax: (250) 635-6919 / Airbase: (250) 798-2562 * orew moves * freigt * fishing * AiR CHARTER SERVICE *hunting * camping * sightseeing 3752 Highway 16 East Terrace B.C. V8G 5J3 Phone: {250) 635-3407 / Fax: (250) 635-6919 ' 3752 Highway 16 East Terrace B.C. V8G 5J3 Phone: (250) 635-3407 / Fax: (250) 635-6919 - Northern Motor inn TERRACE COMES FOR COUNTRY HOSPITALITY 3086 Highway 16 East Terrace B.C. V8G 3N5 Phone: (250) 635-6375 if Fax: (250) 635-6129 / Toll Free Reservations 1-800-663-3390 Thornhill P 2387 Thornhill Street Terrace B.C. Phone: (250) 638-8404 or 635-6375 AL *COZY COUNTRY ATMOSPHERE *OUTSIDE PATIO *KARAOKE - FRIDAY NIGHTS lf NN N 4702 Lakelse Ave., Terrace B.C. V8G 1R6 Ph. {250} 635-6302 / Fax (250) 6356381 a Toll Free Reservas ae 2631 LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN TERRACE qe Pe Te >, eed ad C-. : 4b K. iP iay 3. Mays : ee ‘Hanale with, Care.”: The Natural Warmth Of Wood | Pre-dried | Dip-Primed with quality exterior primer | Ready to finish in any color | Resists rotting, splitting and warping Ideal for exterior applications Vanderhoof SpecialtyWood Products Ph: (250) 567-3136 Fax: (250)567-3909 Contact: Julius Komlos ‘98 Dodge Ram Quad Cab Available in 2 and 4 wheel drive, V-8, V-10 or Cummins Turbo Deisel, Long or Short Box $27,270 Freight Starting From FORMERLY THE SLUMBER LODGE www. terraceautomall.com 4916 Hwy 16, Terrace © 635-7187 * 1-800-313-7187 -