First Nations

 We left Kitimat, Km 0 Hwy 37, in the rain and headed back through Terrace and back onto Hwy 16. We stopped for the night in the ancient lands of the Gitselasu. Reading about their complex and striated society and 5000 years of canyon life around the Skeena River, was really hard to fit with this modern depiction of the clans and long houses. We were alone here until morning when some young girls came to cut the grass.

 The next day we visited the Gitanyow community at dusk. We were just obnoxious taking pictures of these, "the oldest concentration of totem poles still in their original location." Who to ask? How to make it ok? We move through and take images of their clan totems.... what gives us the right? Who are they and who are we? What a remote place to be in-- so near. so far.

 Michael found an amazing place to process veggie oil with the most magnificent views out to the Seven Sisters Peaks. However, he would rather I display this pile of bear leavings on the road so here ya have it... There are plenty more peaks to show you.

 In our ugly American role, after turning north at Kitwanga Junction, we also visited Kitwanga Fort, also called Battle Hill, where a great warrior ingeniously held off hostile attacks in the early 1800s. After that we followed the Kitwanga River farther north up Hwy 37. It feels good to be moving slowly north even as food, propane, veggie oil, radio etc. grows harder and more infrequent to access.