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REPORTING · 18th September 2008
HAISLA EXPERIENCE: DEVELOPING TOURISM
Walter McFarlane
On Friday, September 12th, the vessel “Haisla Nation” took a group consisting of members of the media, representatives of the District of Kitimat, Kitimaat Village Counsel and Kitimat Chamber of Commerce out on the waters of the Douglas Channel to get feedback on a project entitled: The Haisla Experience. The 9 hour trip was based upon a sampling of what the packages would consist of and served as a reminder of the paradises that lurk a few hours from the town of Kitimat.
The trip was a boat ride to the Bishop Bay Hot Springs traveling along the Haisla Traditional Territory. The “Haisla Nation” stopped at Jesse Falls, Hopkins Point and Monkey Beach for both explanations of the significance of the location to the Haisla Nation and occasional crabbing. Marc-André de Launière served as a guide to the recreational activities in the areas while Clifford Smith spoke about Haisla tradition and captained the boat, Haisla Nation.
“The Kitimaat Village Council is doing a study to see if they have a possibility and opportunity to start up a business in the tourism sector around here,” Stated de Launière. “We have to develop a product, the Haisla Experience step by step. A First Nation Tourism Business.”
The Kitimaat Village Council has been carrying out studies in the past to determine the potential of the Haisla Traditional Territory for tourism activities for the communities' benefit. The Haisla Experience is currently developing the product and hope to have it ready for the tourism scene by next spring.
As the boat traveled down the coast, there were plenty of reminders of the beauty of the waterways along the Douglas Channel, the importance they served to the history of the First Nations along the North Western Canadian Coast and the attraction and potential that they have to the tourism industry of the North. The ‘Haisla Nation’ encountered several other sightseers including the touring boat ‘Maple Leaf’ and the ‘La Cumbre.’ The latter captained by Dean Waterman who has lived on a boat he built for 12 years.
“BC is a great place. You’ve got everything you need as far as boating goes. The Scenery is good, the water is good and the people are good,” said Waterman.
The boat came to a stop at the Bishop Bay Hot Springs, an exotic getaway in Kitimat’s back yard. Maintained by BC Parks, it includes scenic views, a picnic shelter, camping pads for tents and of course, the hot springs housed in a small brick building beside the channel.
Wildlife played a secondary role to the scenery on the trip. Seals were visible in the water. Several unfortunate crabs, sea stars and one nervous halibut stumbled into the crab traps. The docks of Bishop Bay teamed with life from exotic undersea plants and sea anenomies on the docks themselves, small fish calling the waters around the docks home and multi pointed starfish on the bottom of the ocean.
Unfortunately, the time came for the boat to leave one utopia and return home to another. A gorgeous day only enhanced the paradise. “That’s exactly what it is and people should experience it,” said Sue Christiansen of the Kitimaat Village Council.
The Haisla Experience is a trip worth taking when it is ready as it covers many exotic and historical locations. de Launière hinted that when the tours are ready to launch, there may even be more exotic historically significant locations on the venue.
