The Story of Lost Valley and Melvin Creek
Possible ancient ceremonial rock in Cayoosh Range, where leaders gather to discuss peace.
In 1999 the Wilderness Committee joined with the St’át’imc people of Shalalth and Seton Portage to clear a 35 kilometre-long ancient travel route through Lost Valley. Lost Valley is used by the St’át’imc for hunting, medicinal plant collection, and myriad spiritual purposes. As the project progressed, the ancient route linking Lost Valley, Melvin Creek and Barkley Valley, through Greasy Pass (a large soap-stone deposit), was located. Elders shared their ancient knowledge of the route with the St’át’imc youth who guided the work parties, and it was learned that the foot path actually passed through many valleys, including Melvin Creek, and that an important ceremonial gathering rock, possibly the one pictured here, was located somewhere in the high country above Greasy Pass, where three magnificent valleys join in an alpine oasis. The foot travel route through Lost Valley and Melvin Creek has now been cleared, and the N’Quat’qua people of D’Arcy also cleared one of their ancient travel routes into Lost Valley. These improved foot paths through the Cayoosh Range are now increasingly being used by St’at’imc youth for traditional purposes.
