The St'át'imc Nation and the Wilderness Committee
When youth are connected to the land, and use the earth wisely, everyone benefits.
Shalath and T’it’q’et Band members show “Youth Spirit Wilderness” films at beautiful Head of the Lake School in Skatin.
For nearly 10 years, the St’át’imc Nation has had a close relationship with the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. The Wilderness Committee has been very active helping promote programs that bring St’át’imc youth ‘out on the land’, where they engage in traditional practices involving ancient wisdom and spiritual teachings, and in the clearing of ancient St’át’imc Nation wilderness travel routes.
Throughout their 8,000-10,000 year history on this land, the St’át’imc people used a series of land travel and trade routes to move from village to village, and to access areas important for hunting, gathering, spirituality, culture and recreation. These routes are connected to neighbouring Nations for trade. Many of these areas were damaged in the 200 years since contact by logging, mining, hydro-electric development, road building, railways, and other forms of development. Most of the ancient travel and trade routes are still used by St’át’imc people, but some have fallen into disrepair. Relocating and repairing these travel routes is essential for youth spiritual and cultural development.
In 2007, a 35 km route through Lost Valley and Melvin Creek was completed by the St’át’imc and the Wildereness Committee. This ancient footpath passes through important hunting grounds and areas where spiritual training occurs. In 2007-08, parts of an ancient travel route through Keary and Whitecap Creeks will be surveyed by First Nation youth, and will be cleared with the assistance of Wilderness Committee Volunteers.
Also beginning in 2007, the communities of Shalalth and Seton Portage will begin work with the Labour Environmental Alliance Society. This work will document cancers and other illnesses that have been caused by toxic chemical pollution. They will also develop a strategy to reduce toxic contamination of the environment.
To date, the Wilderness Committee has helped organize over twenty expeditions to survey and clear ancient St’át’imc travel routes, help construct traditional pit houses and other shelters, and assist with outdoor youth programs. One hundred and fourteen people have participated in these expeditions. Three films have been made to document this important work. The films have been shown in all St’át’imc communities as part of a traveling film series called “Youth Spirit Wilderness.”
