January 07, 2008 | Tips from Us >
New Hazelton, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Hazelton has become my favourite small town in B.C. The town lives on the convergence of two rivers, the Skeena and the Bulkley. It is also a place where the First Nation and the Pioneer cultures converge, creating a beautiful little town with a lot of history. Here are my two tips from Hazelton.
1. The tour of the ‘Ksan Heritage Village is a must. You can not access the longhouses unless you are on a guided tour. Although you can wander the grounds on your own, you can only “experience the experience” with a guide. My guide was warm, inviting, and open to discussing her culture. She made me want to spend the rest of the summer with her and her family attending their traditional potlatches and ceremonies, learning their unique crafts, and lying on the vibrant green grass in front of the river.
2. In Old Hazelton, go to Mercedes Beans and Model Teas for an organic cup of goodness. It is located in Triangle Square, a colourful tea garden to hang out in. I sat beside a jug of sun-kissed tea and slurped my iced chai latte. Yum!
January 03, 2008 | Tips from Us >
New Hazelton, Historic & Heritage Sites
View a larger image on flickr.com
In March of this year I had the pleasure of travelling east from Prince Rupert to Smithers. We made a too-brief stop at the 'Ksan Historical Village in Hazelton and, while much of the site was closed for the season, we were able to have a good look around at the amazing houses and totem poles, as well as the Museum. To have a more thorough look around would be well worth a trip back up North!
The 'Ksan Historical Village and Museum stands where the village of Gitanmaax has existed for centuries. There has a museum of sorts on the site for decades but the current one has over 600 items from the area including bent boxes, button blankets, jewellery, hunting utensils. Outside, a row of 7 Gitxsan houses line up for a great photo op, and if you are a totem pole fan, there is lots to see and capture on film.