Nii - Haliisuuah Winter/Spring 2024

Nii

1

Haliisuuah

EULACHON WINTER/SPRING 2024

kitselas.com Call for community photos!

Enter your photos for a chance to have them featured in print.

We’re looking for harvesting, landscape and nature shots!

For questions, contact: Cedar Welsh LR.Manager@kitselas.com | 778-634-3517

Photo: Food fishing for the Bennett family. Photo courtesy of Chief Glenn Bennett.

All uncredited photos are courtesy of KLRD Staff.

Copyright © Kitselas Lands and Resources Department, 2023.

All rights reserved.

TABLE OF CONTENTS from the Chief 2 Message Administrative Officer Linda Morven

Preparedness 7 Wildfire Kitselas Lands and Resources Staff

Home, Our Food, Our 17 Our Resilience

Guest article: Tammara Soma

Connections 21 Elder Jaison McDames, Ken McDames Sr, Hedy McDames

1

Eulachon Monitoring Project 3 2023 Kitselas Lands and Resources Staff

Facts For All Ages: Bears!

11 Fun Kitselas Lands and Resources Staff

From the Community 20 Photos Darren Bolton, Isaiah Bevan-Wright 24

Message from the Chief Administrative Officer

Dear Members, Welcome to the third edition of Nii, a magazine produced by the Kitselas Lands and Resources Department (KLRD). KLRD has been very proactive, and aims to provide the community with a fresh and engaging way to learn about science and stewardship in our community, and share your stories and perspectives on harvesting, lands, and resources.

In this edition, we celebrate Haliisuuah, the month of the eulachon. We bring you news on our second year of eulachon eDNA monitoring as we expand this valuable program and begin to see results.

We’ve brought you some very important information on wildfire prevention and preparedness in this issue. This year, KLRD will be undertaking a project to lower wildfire risk in our communities, and we’ve included some ways you can reduce wildfire risk around your home.

Dr. Tammara Soma is our guest author in this issue, telling of her experiences working with members of the Kitselas community on the citizen science project and book Our Home, Our Food, Our Resilience. We also have an engaging

2

article with fun facts about bears, including our new grizzly monitoring project. Watch for future issues where we report back on the state of grizzly bear habitat in our territory.

I also want to recognize our community contributors for this edition: Chief Glenn Bennett, Darren Bolton, Isaiah Bevan-Wright, Jaison McDames, Ken McDames Sr, and Hedy McDames. Your contributions strengthen the collaboration between families and the community as we come together to celebrate the harvest and environmental stewardship.

I urge all of the community to share your amazing photographs, unique stories, and memorable experiences in this incredible territory you call home. Please contact the Lands and Resources department if you have any questions or are interested in further discussion on any of the articles that are shared. Thank you.

Respectfully, Linda Morven Chief Administrative Officer

2023 Eulachon Monitoring Project KITSELAS LANDS AND RESOURCES STAFF

In the cold days of February, people and wildlife eagerly wait for the return of silvery schools of small nutrient-rich fish. It is a fish with many names. Called Oouh in Sm’algyax, known by many as Oolican or Eulachon, and called Thaleichthys pacificus by scientists. The eulachon spends most of its life at sea before migrating upriver to spawn — and to feed the people and animals who live along the Skeena.

Researchers think the number of Skeena River eulachon has decreased by 90% since the 1960s. This has affected the nutrition and cultural practices of many coastal nations. It has also reduced an important food source for many birds, mammals, and large fish.

The Kitselas Lands and Resources Department has monitored the Skeena River eulachon run since 2018. Our goal is to understand how the run is changing. We are looking for the causes of low (and high) returns. This information will help us take action to protect the eulachon.

From 2018 to 2022, our monitoring program studied the birds and mammals that prey on eulachon. Kitselas Fisheries Monitors watched from land or from boats, counting the predators and recording how they behaved.

3

In 2022, the program expanded to include an innovative technology called Environmental DNA (or eDNA). Researchers can sample the water of the river to detect genetic traces of eulachon. The eDNA helps us determine the numbers and location of the species even when we can’t see them. This is the first time eulachon eDNA has been collected from the Skeena River.

In 2023, the Kitselas Lands and Resources Department added more eDNA sampling days and sites. This will give us a better picture of the timing and numbers of the eulachon run in the Skeena River.

Photo, top left: Smoked eulachon (digit). Photo courtesy of Darren Bolton. Top right, bottom left: Scientists using an eDNA sampler backpack to monitor eulachon. Photos courtesy of KLRD staff.

2023 findings Our research showed that the 2023 eulachon run started around late February, the same as 2022. But this time, the run lasted longer into March. We found higher eDNA concentrations at all locations that we sampled. This tells us that the run size was larger in 2023 compared to 2022.

More sampling sites were added in 2023.

Researchers looked at spawning location and numbers in the lower Skeena and Khyex rivers.

We found that eulachon are spawning as far as 4 km upstream within the Khyex River. The Gitnadoiks River only had a few eulachon in 2023.

No eDNA in 2023, very low in 2022

2023: Khyex peak on March 10 2023: Most Khyex sites high in March 2022: K1 had low results, peaked on Feb 25

1

K3 2 K1

10

2022: overall peak on March 5 2023: site peak on March 15

K4

11

12

Very low, late March

K2 3

4

8

6

5

7

9 2023: high March 1 to 23 2022: low mid-March

2023: high March 4 to 24 2023: overall peak on March 1 (not sampled in 2022)

Run timing

2022

2023

Low results starting mid-February High results starting February 25 Peak on March 5 End in mid-March

Low results starting in January High results starting February 24 Peak on March 1 Results high to end of sampling period

Site names

4

1 Margonish Creek

9 Polymer Bar

2 Lower Khyex River

10 Skeena at Exchamsiks

3 Upstream of Khyex on River Right

11 Downstream of Gitnadolks

4 Upstream of Khyex on River Right

12 Upstream of Gitnadolks

5 Upstream of Khyex on River Left

K1 Khyex River at bridge

6 Upstream of Basalt Creek

K2 Khyex River 2 km above bridge

7 Telegraph Rest Area

K3 Khyex River 3 km above bridge

8 Kwinitsa Fishing Location

K4 Khyex River 4 km above bridge

Eulachon monitoring: environmental DNA Environmental DNA (eDNA) is tiny particles of DNA in the environment The eDNA can tell us there are eulachon nearby even if we can’t see the fish.

We collect water samples: at different times

from different places

So we can learn more about the eulachon run: where it is

how big it is

when it starts and ends

Eulachon eDNA is spread through: Spawning

Predators

Everything that lives in or near the water adds eDNA

Shedding and waste

Decomposition

Eulachon monitoring: watching predators The Kitselas Lands and Resources Department has partnered with Wai Wah Environmental Ltd. to study eulachon predators.

These studies can tell us about changes in run timing, habitat use, and population dynamics 5

We can learn important information from eulachon predators when they gather to feast during the run.

Continued Future Work We currently don’t know how early eulachon arrive in the Skeena River, or how weather and water conditions affect the run timing.

We plan to do more research on this during the 2024 run.

Reach out to KLRD if you’d like more information. Ask us how you can get involved!

Photo: Eulachon grease. Courtesy of Darren Bolton.

Eulachon Monitoring Tool You can help monitor the eulachon run to protect and sustain this important species!

Everyone can participate 1. Pick up a free Eulachon Monitoring Tool booklet from KLRD. 2. Follow the instructions in the booklet and record your numbers.

3. Return the cards to our office or send a photo of your card.

All results will be communicated back to the community so everyone knows more about the trends in the Eulachon population.

6

Bring your eulachon monitoring booklet when you go out fishing, or just to observe the run!

Wildfire preparedness: what you need to know, what you can do KITSELAS LANDS AND RESOURCES STAFF

BC has more and more serious wildfires because of drought and climate change.

The south and the interior have the most fires, but there’s more risk everywhere in BC now. That includes Kitselas Traditional Territory and our community.

KLRD is taking action to prepare our community. What we do today can save lives.

Prepare for emergencies!

Get our guidebook at the KLRD office Kitselas Emergency Response Division

Questions? Contact us!

Emergency Response Manager: Ken McDames Jr, ER.Manager@kitselas.com FireSmart contacts for Kitselas First Nation: Madison Gerow, lr.reception@kitselas.com Megan Rogers, rlo@kitselas.com We can answer your questions about the FireSmart program, wildfire hazard assessments, or other wildfire questions.

7

Kitselas First Nation Home Preparedness Guidebook

Check your yard for wildfire dangers Zone 1: High-risk Zone (0 to 1.5 metres from your home) Renters/Residents

Owners

1

Clear anything that can burn. This includes plants, leaves, and mulch.

2

Keep grass short in this zone.

3

Do not put furniture, wood, or anything else that can burn in this zone.

A

Do not plant woody shrubs or trees in this zone.

B

Research “fire-resistant building materials” for building or renovating.

C

Cover this zone with gravel, brick, or concrete.

Zone 2: Medium-risk Zone (1.5 to 10 metres from your home) Renters/Residents

Owners

4

Do not keep vehicles, furniture, lawnmowers, trailers, or anything that can burn in this zone.

D

Do not build sheds/garages in this zone (place in Zone 3). Choose fire-resistant materials.

5

Move all firewood to Zone 3. Store in a fireresistant shed or garage if possible.

E

Plant only fire-resistant trees and shrubs in this zone.

6

Clean up dead branches, bushes, leaves, and needles regularly.

F

Remove all tree branches lower than 2 metres from the ground.

Zone 3: Outer Zone (10 to 30 metres from your home) Renters/Residents

Owners

7

Keep furniture, vehicles, lawnmowers, and trailers in this zone.

G

Use fireproof ground cover (gravel, concrete pad) for driveways.

8

Clean up dead branches, bushes, leaves, and needles regularly.

H

Remove all tree branches lower than 2 metres from the ground.

High risk

FireSmart

D 2m

5 1

A

3 NE ZO NE 2 ZO

B

2

C

3

8

NE

ZO

6

ZO ZO NE 3 NE 2

F 1

D E

4

Based on the Government of BC’s Wildfire Preparedness Guide

B 5

C

G 2 NE ZO NE 3 ZO

8

H

2m

7

Apply the three-zone rules to all sheds and garages, too

Kitselas On-Reserve FireSmart project Forested area FireSmart treatment area Started in 2022 FireSmart project access roads Existing roads

This project includes: • thinning out small trees • removing dead trees and high-risk underbrush • pruning the lower branches of some larger trees

In 2024 KLRD will start the FireSmart project to lower wildfire risk near community homes in Gitaus. Kulspai was also inspected but it was found to be at low risk for fires.

The forested areas on the slopes around Gitaus are a high risk for fires right now. There is a lot of “fire fuel” among the trees and plants. The FireSmart project will remove those high-risk materials. The goal is to make any fire near our community less dangerous and easier to control.

The project boundary starts at the edge of Zone 3 around each house (30 metres from home) or at the edge of the housing lot.

KITSELAS FIRST NATION COMMUNITY WILDFIRE RESILIENCY PLAN

In Collaboration With:

9

Our goal is to make these changes with as little impact on the ecosystem as possible.

Older trees will be kept so the forest floor has plenty of shade. We will try to keep all valuable plants like thimbleberry and elderberry. Some of these species may even expand when they have more space.

Removing the “fire fuel” from these areas will lower our community’s fire risk. If wildfire does come here, it will not move as fast, and it will be harder for the fire to climb up into the crowns of the trees. This makes the fire easier to control and less destructive.

This treatment will protect homes and save lives if a wildfire does reach the community.

Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan KLRD completed a Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan in 2022. You can download it on our website or ask your local FireSmart Representatives (see page 7) for information.

BC wildfires: facts and figures

2023 was a dramatic record-breaking wildfire season. The previous record for area burned by wildfire was in 2018 when 1.4 million hectares burned. In 2023, around twice that area burned: 2.8 million hectares by November. No one was ready for 2023 to double the all-time record.

Pierre Markuse / Wikimedia

Climate change is driving more wildfires in BC. Pine beetles and unsustainable forest management also play a role. But without drought, wildfires would not grow as large or as fast. They would be much easier to control.

Scientists predict we will see more severe droughts due to climate change. So we will probably see more fire years like 2023.

West Kiskatinaw River Wildfire, 7 June 2023.

The intense, long, and large-scale drought in 2023 was a big reason for the bad wildfire season. The end of the wet spring and the start of the summer drought came earlier than usual. The drought was severe and covered a wider area than many droughts in the past. It also continued later into the fall, especially in the north. The fall temperatures in 2023 were warmer, and there was less rain than usual.

The graph to the right shows how much land burned from wildfires over the last 9 years. Some years had very few wildfires, but other years had many huge, uncontrollable fires. This tells us that fire seasons vary a lot, making it hard to predict what will come next.

2017 broke all previous records by a lot, then 2018 was even worse. But right after that, 2019 and 2020 had very little wildfire. Drought linked to climate change means more bad years are coming, but we can’t tell ahead of time which years will be bad.

Kitselas Traditional Territory

Total area burned in BC

2023 2.8 million hectares

Approximately to scale

Total area burned in BC in million hectares 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Source: BC Wildfire Service

10

Bears!

FUN FACTS FOR ALL AGES

KITSELAS LANDS AND RESOURCES STAFF

Two bear species live in BC: the grizzly bear and the American black bear.

Grizzly and black bears are “keystone species.” This means the ecosystem needs them, and they keep everything in balance.

By hunting deer and other prey, bears keep those populations in check. They also spread nutrients across the land as they travel, eating a variety of foods. Their droppings spread seeds and fertilize plants.

150,000

black bears in BC

Wikimedia

Keystone species

15,000

grizzly bears in BC

alh1 / Flickr

Their role as nutrient-spreaders is very important during salmon runs. Bears only eat the fatty parts of salmon and leave the rest, often among the trees. The fish carcass breaks down into the soil, giving trees important nutrients like nitrogen. In this way, bears and salmon bring nutrients from the ocean to the forest.

11

marneejill / Flickr

Diego Delso / Wikimedia

Black bears

Grizzly bears

Black bears live in many ecosystems in BC, but often prefer forested areas. Each bear has a “home range” of 5,000 to 10,000 km2.

They wander all through their home range for food. Black bears are more likely than grizzlies to wander near homes or to live near developed areas.

Grizzly bears have home ranges of 25 to 700 km2, much smaller than black bear ranges.

There are fewer grizzly bears than black bears, and many areas in BC have none at all. Most coastal islands, including Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island, have few or no grizzlies.

Bears have an incredible sense of smell. It’s about seven times better than a bloodhound dog!

Grizzly bears tend to avoid developed areas.

Places with many farms or a big human population are unlikely to have grizzly bears.

As human development expands into their habitat, grizzly bear numbers are shrinking.

Kermode Bear The Kermode bear, or “spirit bear,” is a subspecies of the black bear. They have creamy white fur and are only found in the Central and North Coast areas of BC. These bears are not albinos nor related to polar bears. A rare genetic trait gives their colour.

Tsimshian First Nations revere spirit bears, and we have shared our traditional territory with them for thousands of years. Referred to as “moksgm’ol” in Sm’algyax, there are several oral histories and cultural stories about these bears among Tsimshian people.

Maximilian Helm / Flickr

12

A bear’s life

Bears love to eat their greens!

Diet

Few mammals have colour vision, but it’s a trait that humans and bears share. Colour vision helps bears spot the difference between similar foods.

miguelb / Flickr

Bears are descended from carnivores (meat eaters) but grizzly and black bears are omnivores like humans (everything eaters).

When bears emerge from their dens in the spring, they first eat grasses and other fresh spring plants. Then, when the berries are ripe, bears spend a lot of time eating those. Berries are high in sugar, which helps bears eat a lot of calories quickly. During salmon runs you can see bears feasting on fatty salmon. Bears also eat insects, mushrooms, and young deer, elk or moose!

Life cycle Bears mate in the late spring to early summer.

But pregnancy doesn’t start until late fall, once they are fat enough to hibernate. During hibernation, 1–4 cubs are born in January– February. The mother nurses her cubs in the den until they all go outside in April or May. A mother cares for her cubs for at least two years. In year three, she will usually chase them off.

Bears do not face many predators, especially as adults. Bears can live over 30 years, but 15–20 years is more usual.

13

marneejill / Flickr

Male bears are referred to as “boars,” females are called “sows,” and babies are “cubs.” A family or group of bears is called a “sloth.”

Behaviour Both grizzlies and black bears spend a lot of time alone. But sows stay with their cubs, pairs stay together for a while to mate, and a group of bears might crowd around a big food source like a salmon fishing spot.

Bear “home ranges” are made up of different food sources with trails between them. They don’t usually attack other bears who come near, but they will defend food sources.

Rick Cameron / Flickr

You can see signs of bear activity when hiking in the forest. Bears leave claw marks, bite marks or hair on trees to mark a territory with their scent. You might also see gnawed bark, droppings (scat), or paw prints.

marneejill / Flickr

Adults can eat up to 20,000 calories (or about 30 hamburgers) every day!

Hibernation Grizzly and black bears hibernate alone in dens over winter. This helps them to conserve energy in winter’s severe weather and food shortages.

How long they hibernate depends on the local climate. Bears in the north hibernate longer due to colder, harsher winters. Bears hibernate 4–7 months on average.

In their dens, bears do not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate. They lower their heart rate, body 14

temperature, and metabolism, living off only their fat reserves.

To get ready to hibernate, bears must eat huge amounts in the fall to build up their fat. They can eat up to 20,000 calories in a day—10 times what a typical human adult needs! A heavier bear has a better chance of surviving the cold winter. They lose around one third of their body weight while hibernating.

Conflict and coexistence Bears have learned there is easy food near where people live. Thousands of “problem bear” calls are made to the BC Conservation Officer Service each year. Usually, these bears are tranquilized and moved away. But when a bear keeps coming back, the Conservation Officers are required to kill it to keep people safe.

The biggest threat to bear survival is the changes that humans make to the land. Many towns, ranches, and farms in BC are built on prime bear habitat. People expand further into bear habitat every day.

To keep bears and humans safe, do not leave easy food where they can get it. Secure, bearproof food storage helps. Protecting bear habitat helps, too. Bears need their own space away from humans.

Province of BC / Flickr

Normally, bears will only attack when scared.

So make lots of noise if a bear might be around. This will warn the bear that you are coming, and it will avoid you. If you see a bear, stay far away.

Is that a

GRIZZLY? Grizzly fur can be black, brown, or almost blonde Rump even with, or lower than, shoulder

Shoulder hump

Don’t rely on size and fur colour to tell them apart Spot the difference by looking at the body shape!

Ears short, round, and furry

Or a

BLACK BEAR? Black bear fur can be black, white, bluish-grey, or brown

Ears larger and more pointy

Dish-shaped face profile

No hump

Rump even with, or higher than, shoulder

Flat face profile

Front paw Grizzly adults are usually much larger than black bears...

Long claws

Shorter claws

... but small grizzlies and large black bears can be the same size.

Clockwise from top right: marneejill / Flickr; miguelb via flickr; Rachid H via flickr; marneejill / Flickr; marneejill / Flickr; US National Parks Service.

15

Bears and Kitselas Medeek First Nations have strong cultural and spiritual connections to bears. They are one of the most widespread clan animals.

Bears are often portrayed as a sort of enforcer figure who punishes disrespectful or improper behaviour among other animals and people.

In the Tsimshian language of Sm’algyax, Medeek (midiik) is the word for grizzly bear.

Grizzly bears are important in Kitselas adawx (oral history), carvings, and other art. Chief Walter Wright, Chief of the Grizzly Bear People, narrated some of these adawx in the books Men of Medeek and Wars of Medeek.

The grizzly bear is the chief crest that belongs to the Gispwudwada (Killerwhale clan).

16

Grizzly bear study Wai Wah Environmental has received funding for a grizzly bear conservation project in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada. This project is studying grizzly bear behaviour in the Kitselas traditional territory. Researchers interviewed Kitselas members about bear sightings. Motionactivated cameras are tracking grizzly movements. This information will help us judge which grizzly habitat area is most important, and if the habitat needs protection or repair. This helps us make the best plan for conservation of our grizzly bear population.

Photo courtesy of Tammara Soma.

Our Home, Our Food, Our Resilience A partnership with Kitselas citizen scientists

BY TAMMARA SOMA Greetings to all my relations! My name is Tammara Soma. I am a professor at the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and a mother of three (16, 12, and 10 years old). I am an Ahmadi Muslim and I was born and raised in the beautiful country of Indonesia. I am from the Sundanese tribe, an ethnic group of people from the island of Java. I now live on the unceded, ancestral and traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

17

Indonesia is a group of 17,000 tropical islands. It is rich in natural resources, and it has over 800 languages and 1331 ethnic groups. Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch for 350 years, then the British, Portuguese and Japanese. We gained our independence on August 17th, 1945. Although we are independent, the legacy of colonization still remains. We live with neo-colonization and resource extraction by foreign companies. This includes Canadian mining corporations.

Because of my background I know that if one of us is not free, no one is free. I recognize that injustices and the global reach of imperialism are all connected. I am passionate about challenging colonial worldviews and supporting Indigenous food sovereignty.

At SFU’s Food Systems Lab, I worked on a project with Dr. Chelsey Armstrong, Tamara Shulman, graduate student Samantha Jung, and the Kitselas Lands and Resources Department (Dr. Cedar Welsh). We partnered with six very talented and amazing members of the Kitselas lahkhyuup. These experts are Desiree Bolton, Darren Bolton, Leanne Woods, Fred Robinson Jr, Lynn Wright-Parker, and Clarissa Spencer.

These citizen scientists told stories about important community food assets. They used a tool called Photovoice. This is a method of combining photography with storytelling. They shared the beauty, expertise and wisdom of the people in Kitselas lahkyuup. My students and the public had the opportunity to learn from their knowledge.

We published the work of these citizen scientists in a community legacy book.

Vancouver Science World featured this book in an exhibit. We will also publish it in an academic journal for planners.

From this project I learned beautiful values such as wisdom, love, respect and humility, bravery, and honesty. From Clarissa, I loved learning about the wisdom of sharing and not wasting food like swaaniik. From Fred, I learned how the scent from the smokehouse brought him beautiful memories of his grandmother. He spoke of her love for him and his childhood spending time with her.

18

Photo courtesy of Tammara Soma.

From Darren, I learned about the beauty of the Octopus, and how smart they are. Treating animals with respect and humility is important to maintain balance. From Leanne, I learned about her passion for teaching youth through the fish camp. She spoke of how it is important to invest in education to reconnect the youth to the land. I hope that my children will learn about their Lebanese and Indonesian culture and our traditional foods.

Desiree taught me about courage and how to speak for what is right. She spoke of protecting the moose against the big powers that are damaging the land. From Lynn, I learned about the joy that comes from traditional practices.

Photo courtesy of Tammara Soma.

19

She spoke of nurturing one another through harvesting, canning, and making Indian Ice Cream from Iss (soap berries).

Our project happened during the first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were not able to travel to Kitselas. Then, Chelsey took me to the laakhyup in 2023 and was able to meet my heroes Desiree and Darren. It is my hope that I can come again. I would like to meet more Kitselas members and work together to achieve Indigenous food sovereignty. In my teaching, I was taught that the Creator made us all different so we can get to know one another. I feel blessed to learn from 6 amazing relations and I hope to meet more!

Photos From the Community

Darren Bolton

20

Photo courtesy of Jaison McDames

Elder Connections

BY JAISON MCDAMES, KEN MCDAMES SR, HEDY MCDAMES How have you experienced material or processing change in harvesting traditional foods in your family?

Every year the ice is on the side of the river so we can’t harvest eulachon if they’re under the ice. It’s hard to harvest the chinook because the river is high flooding so we miss out on the harvest. For us it is hard to harvest salmon because my ya-as is an elder so he can’t fish.

How have you experienced seasonal changes in the timing of harvesting?

Yes. Seasonal change makes it tough to harvest everything for fishing — the water will freeze. The summer weather was too hot so we couldn’t smoke our salmon. And if there is lightning it will turn our fish to mush. Because we have no control over weather.

21

How have our cultural ways experienced change for better or worse?

Everybody has different versions of our cultural ways. And our cultural laws and traditions are not being followed.

What hopes do you have for your family or for Kitselas?

It is changing in youth, to stop learning at grade 12. But I hope people’s goal is to keep going to educational workshops for careers — and job fairs for kids — to see what they want to do after school.

Development on reserves: What amenities do you hope for on reserve?

• Gas bar with a convenience store in it • Performance center outdoor for traditional dance groups • Covered bleachers • Fire pit and the center pitch of grass around the fire pit • Cook house for serving/selling • Indoor swimming pool • Skate park in Gitaus • Indoor playground/trampoline • Rock climbing wall • Trails Knowledge Transmission: What is the best way for younger generations to learn about Kitselas Land Connections?

• Experience hunting, trapping, and fishing with professionals • Teaching about good and bad berries, what to pick and what not to pick • Net mending and hanging nets • Target shooting • Learning about traditional ways of harvesting cedar and birch • A camp about all the traditional ways in the season they’re available

22

Photo courtesy of Jaison McDames

Participate in our Elder Connections series This is an opportunity for youth to connect with Elders in their family by interviewing their family members and learning from them. We are providing the platform of this article series to demonstrate knowledge transmission from one generation to another.

Are you interested in writing an article for this series?

We are looking for Kitselas youth under 25 who would like to interview their elders and write about that experience in their own words.

We will provide the cost of a one-time meal to facilitate the interview.

We are looking for writing with a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 1200 words for the article.

Suggested questions for your elders: • • • • • •

How have you experienced material or processing change in harvesting traditional foods in your family?

How have you experienced seasonal changes in the timing of harvesting?

How have our cultural ways experienced change for the better or worse?

What hopes do you have for your family or for Kitselas?

Development on reserves: What amenities do you hope for on reserve?

Knowledge transmission: What is the best way for younger generations to learn about Kitselsas Land Connections?

We recommend providing a sheet with these questions to each elder after the interview. If they forget to mention something and want to include it, they can write down their thoughts later.

Please contact Madison Gerow at LR.Reception@kitselas.com if you would like to participate!

The next issue of the magazine will be published in the summer.

23

Photos From the Community

Isaiah Bevan-Wright

24

Kitselas Traditional Territory Reserve Boundary

Kitselas Traditional Territory Kitselas is a Tsimshian (Ts’mysen) Nation whose Traditional Territory stretches from the Pacific Ocean on the north coast, about 200 km inland, to the lower Skeena River Valley. Kitselas culture and history is deeply rooted in the land, as demonstrated by numerous archeological sites and the traditional land and resource management practices of the Gitselasu (People of the Canyon).

kitselas.com | 778-634-3517