#183 July 2018 Terrace - Canada's most Recent Volcano

We celebrated Canada Day at Heritage Park in Terrace. 

Heritage buildings have been moved into the park with each building showcasing a specific aspect of pioneer life. The artifacts in each cabin portray that life.

The Trapper’s Cabin has pelts.

Dix’s Dance Hall was widely used for picnics and Saturday night dances where local musicians would play dance tunes of the era.

 

The Homesteader Cabin resembles the home of a family working to establish improvements on the land. The land would be free if they could clear the land and erect buildings within a specified period of time.

Also inside the Homesteader Cabin a local Kitsumkalum man had a display of his artwork. He has created traditional style hats from maple wood. 

Each hat may take hundreds of hours of intense labour to carve and paint. He has presented hats to elders for ceremonial occasions and is working on hats for his family. Each member must earn the honour of receiving one of his hats. 

It was a day to celebrate all the people who have called this country home.

From a nearby hill we had a view of modern Terrace.

As we planned this trip we repeatedly heard about the Nass Valley and the lava flow near Terrace. Brian gave us a great tour of the land of the Nisga’a people.

Just over 260 years ago a volcanic eruption occurred in Nisga’a territory killing over 2,000 people and changing the Nass Valley forever. The flow is 20 km long and took only 3 days to run downhill along Tseax Creek and shift the Nass River across the valley.

This map shows the crater in the lower right with the lava flow in yellow.

The lava is still bare in most places but new growth is slowly starting.

The Nass River Valley is the traditional home of the Nisga’a people. 

From time immemorial they have traveled the valley and harvested berries, fish and wildlife. The fish wheels and nets were in use as spring salmon were running.

We briefly visited four Nisga’a villages and then had fresh caught seafood chowder and crab for lunch.

The Nass River flows into Portland Inlet where fishing dominates life.

In the trees there were dozens of eagles watching intently for their salmon catch.

The Nisga’a Museum is home to this 50 foot tall totem pole.

Nisga’a spirits could transform into good or evil beings.

The shaman could control supernatural forces.

Totem poles continue to tell the people’s story.

Our tour ended with an osprey chick checking out its world.