July 02, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Farms & Markets
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Starting at 8:30 am in the Coop Mall parking of Dawson Creek is the Farmers Market which runs through to 12:30pm. This attraction has become a ritual for myself, going down weekly to one of the local vendors to purchase homemade oatmeal raisin cookies (which are to die for!!). I love coming to this market because I have the opportunity to buy top-quality farm-fresh products directly from the person who produces them. These products stem from jewellery, to wool, to wood carvings to homemade pies/jams, and bath soaps. Another bonus to going to the market is that you will not find these products anywhere else!! I also like the fact that you can actually see and talk to the person who made or grew the product I am purchasing.
What is great about this farmers market is that it is an attraction that brings people together, tourists, local businesses and the local people. It generates activity in an otherwise quiet parking lot, hosting a friendly & welcoming atmosphere. They even set up picnic tables so you can mingle with family and friends.
This farmers market is a great way to support locals in the area and connect with them. They love what they sell and put so much time and hard work into it. So in my effort to help farmers and local vendors keep doing what they do and bring fresh products to the community and I am sharing this tid-bit with you, to check it out. There is something at the Dawson Creek Farmers Market for everyone!!
July 02, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Terrace, Attractions
As I've mentioned before in this blog, I love waterfalls. Situated only
45 minutes out of town is maybe one of the most beautiful waterfalls
I've ever seen, and even moreso around this time of year. The local
guide informed me that Vedder Falls is normally a gorgeous waterfall
with 2 fingers (a finger being defined as an individual waterfall part
of the system) however when the creek is flooded, it actually becomes a 4
fingered waterfall.
Now, let me preface this by saying I've seen
many of the local waterfalls and they are all gorgeous... but the
flooded Vedder Falls is amazing. Conveniently located as a 5 minute
walk off the highway, the convenience to beauty ratio is completely
worth it. It is gorgeous and a nicely made viewing platform right on the
edge of the falls with a great little trail to hike down the creek a
ways.
July 02, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Terrace, Arts, Culture & History Tours
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This past Tuesday, I embarked on a FAM tour of the local Nass area with one of the local guides from Split Mountain Adventures. Preparing to take an educational approach to the area, I brought along a camera and an open mind to absorb all the cool lore and culture the area had to offer.
The guide took us up Hwy 113 where we met up with one of the local first nations guides at Vedder Falls where he shared the tales of his culture's past. As we crowded around him at the flooded Vedder Falls, he began the tail of the Gods of the Nisgaa people warning children who had been abusing and ridiculing the fish who were spawning by cutting them open and putting shale in their backs, making them unable to swim. The children did not heed the warning and Gods became angry. He set forth a dangerous flow of lava on the area which killed nearly 3000 of the native people. Another God yelled across the mountains to stop the lava flow, and that he had done too much damage. The God who had started the lava flow called back that he was too weak to stop the lava flow and he would have to watch his people die. The God (seen in the picture with the long, sharp nose) on the other mountain would not tolerate this, and with one swift hit, he hit the lava flow with his long nose and stopped the lava flow completely. Curiously, the edge of the lava flow in the Nass ends with a sharp ninety degree angle, almost as though something huge had hit the flow away to stop it.
July 01, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Terrace, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Terrace - Historic & Heritage Sites
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May 20, 2000 marks a significant date in the history of the Nisga’a People. On this day, the 113-year struggle to end Indian Act to the Nisga’a people finally went through, and the Nisga’a people were granted full government of their own people and land. This was a rejoicing day for the First Nation people in the Nass Valley as it gave them a sense of ownership and closure to this long, drawn-out battle. Many of the artefacts that had left the land during the 19th and 20th century, have now been returned to their rightful place and are housed in a brand new world-class museum. The Nisga’a Museum is located in the cultural village of Laxgalts’ap (Greenville), about 137km on Highway 113 North-West of Terrace, BC. In fact, the highway was named Highway 113 because the Nisga’a Treaty took 113 years sign.
Walking into the museum, we were greeted with friendly faces and immersed into an empowering wave of culture that radiated off the walls of the museum. Every artefact had its own date, story and memory, which outlined the Nisga’a culture and its rich heritage. The tour was full of interesting facts which Nicolette, our guide, delivered in an enthusiastic manner. The 35min tour opened our eyes to much of the Nisga’a culture which can now be shared with the local people, Canada, and the world through an abundance of displays in the beautiful museum. There is also a gift shop where t-shirts, mugs and artwork can be purchased to accompany the wonderful memories and images you will take back with you after a visit here at the Nisga’a Museum. This new structure in Laxgalts’ap adds an extra touch to an already astonishing and vibrant territory here in the Nass Valley.