My first trip to Hazleton

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I got to take my first trip to Hazleton and Gitanmaax! 

This meant travelling through amazing beautiful unceded lands, from the traditional territories of the WSANEC people, to the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueum people, to Tsimshian territory, and thence to Gitxsan territory.  

Put in conventional terms, this meant a flight from Victoria to Vancouver, then another flight to Terrace, and then a 2 hour drive to Hazelton/Gitanmaax.

As ever, the flight from Victoria to Vancouver, was both brief and breathtaking.   

Are those two islands Siaten and Sesiaten?

The Coast Salish world is so beautiful.  

The islands are just scattered about below.  I kept thinking of hearing Tsartlip elder John Elliott tell stories of Qals throwing people out into the water, and transforming them into islands.  

And that makes me remember that the SENCOTEN word for "Islands" can be translated as something like "ancestors of the deep". 


I looked down thinking of how it must be to know each of those island well enough to recognize the curves of their faces, as one does with a relative. 

Flying in to Vancouver - Musqueum Territory

The flight from Vancouver to Terrace was equally beautiful. 

This time, you are flying not over water, but over mountains.

And more mountains.  

It is one mountain range after another. 


As the sun was beginning to set, the snow caps were a mix of shadow, and reflected pinks and purples.

Dusk was coming upon us as we landed, but there was still enough light to catch the beauty of the mountains that surround you in Terrace.

We headed to the hotel for dinner (a truly wonderful butter chicken dish, with saffron rice and warm garlic naan!)

The plan was to get up early in the morning for the next leg of the journey, a two hour drive north on the highway.   

Hoping out of bed at 7am, there was a beautiful view of the moon out my window. 

It seemed to resting close to the mountain tops.  

I wished I had a better camera!

Some of the Seven Sisters

The drive to Hazelton was a feast for the eyes.

Here are some photos.

Maybe all Seven of them here?

Stekyawden (or, Roucher Deboule in English!)

The clouds looking like a dollop of whipped cream?

proving to Jess and Val that I can take a selfie 

 And then, home again, with cloudless though darkening skies.

Back to the Vancouver airport, to say hello to some stories and carvings before heading to Victoria.

A perfect two days!