DEASE TELEGRAPH LAKE CREEK ISKUT Bob 1. Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Quinn Lake BRITISH Suite 300, 4545 Lazelle Avenue COLUMBIA Guide to the Terrace, BC, V8G 4E1 Meziadin Junction Stewart 250-615-6100 Cranberry Junction Nass Camp New Aiyansh Hazelton www.rdks.bc.ca Gitwinksihlkw Kitwanga Greenville Rosswood Smithers Terrace Prince Rupert 2. Northern Health Houston Kitimat Prince Suite 600, 299 Victoria Street George STIKINE Prince George, BC, V2L 5B8 250-565-2649 www.northernhealth.ca 3. School District 87 PO Box 190, Lot 5 Commercial Drive Dease Lake, BC, V0C 1L0 250-771-4440 Vancouver www.sd87.bc.ca 4. Tahltan Central Government PO Box 69, Tatl’ah Dease Lake, BC, V0C 1L0 250-771-3274 www.tahltan.org 5. Northern Lights College PO Box 220, Lot 10 Commercial Drive Dease Lake, BC, V0C 1L0 250-771-5500 www.nlc.bc.ca Produced by the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine COMUNITY CONTACTS in collaboration with the Tahltan Central Government. 2016 Overview TOP EVENTS Located in the picturesque northwest BC, the Stikine region is home to several communities rich in Talhtan First Nations history including Dease Lake, Telegraph Creek, and Iskut. Just 236 kilometers south of the Yukon border, Dease Lake offers access to some 1 Dease Lake Fish Derby – “BC’s Largest Northern Lake Trout Derby” of Canada’s largest natural parks, Spatsizi Wilderness Park and Mount Edziza Park. Discover remote wilderness in the Stikine region 2 4on4 Industry Hockey Tournament with endless recreation opportunities from guided horseback riding in the summer months to cross country skiing in the winter. 3 In between the communities of Dease Lake and Iskut is the unique point where the Dease and Liard rivers flow north, and the Annual Chief’s Ride – Bike ride from Telegraph Creek to Dease Lake to Stikine River flows west into the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. The Stikine River has become popular spot for canoe and kayaking promote healthy activities and raise vital funds for medical emergencies. trips, some have made the journey from Telegraph Creek to Wrangell, Alaska. The lakes in the region are renowned for their Arctic 4 Dease Lake Career Fair & Resource Forum Grayling, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, and massive Lake Trout species, while the nearby rivers fill with salmon in the spring and 5 National Aboriginal Day Celebrations summer months. Wildlife is thriving in the region, moose, bear, caribou, mountain goats, and wolverines are just a few of the species roaming the area. If you’re searching for a truly remote wilderness, rich in history and culture, with plenty of 6 Tahltan Country Music Jam opportunity for adventure right in your backyard, then the Stikine region just might be the place for you! AMENITIES POST OFFICE Community halls Grocery Store Hardware store Restaurants HOTELS/MOTELS R.V. parks TRAIL SYSTEMS Provincial Parks PLAYGROUNDS Arena Gift Shops History For thousands of years the Tahltan have occupied this region with deep respect for the land as a source of food and life. In fact, the Tahltan First Nations are known as the keepers of the land or “Dena nenn Sogga neh ‘ine” in their traditional language. Using the obsidian rock created by the lava flows of Mount Edziza to make weapons and tools, the Tahltan were able to hunt, trade with neighboring First Nations, and live off the land for generations. This connection with the land is still very much alive today in the Tahltan Territory. In 1838, a Hudson’s Bay Company’s post was established at the source of a mountain stream, a place known as “Talh’ah”, or Head of the Lake by the Tahltan. The post at Dease Lake, as it was called, became a popular stop on the gold rush trail in 1864 and 1873 and even more so later during the Klondike Gold Rush with the Stikine River serving as the major transport route inland to the Yukon. Tahltan Territory was not accessible by road until 1972 when Highway 37 was completed, running north along the Iskut River and Lakes to Dease Lake, Cassiar and the Yukon. There are three Tahltan communities today THE STIKINE WELCOMES YOU WELCOMES THE STIKINE Iskut (Luwe Chon), Dease Lake (Talh’ah) and Telegraph Creek (Tlegohin). AND AMENITIES ACTIVITIES Travelling to the Stikine Region Air: Connections to domestic and international airports are made easy with airports offering domestic flights in Terrace, Smithers and Dease Lake. Northwest Regional Airport (Terrace) Airlines: Air Canada, West Jet, Central Mountain Air, Hawkair and Northern Thunderbird Air Flights: Daily non-stop flights to Vancouver, Calgary, Kelowna, Prince George, Dease Lake Dease Lake Airport Airlines: Northern Thunderbird Air Flights: Scheduled flights to Terrace and Smithers Highway: From Kitwanga Junction on Highway 16 to the Yukon, the Stewart-Cassiar Highway (HWY 37) is one of only two routes from B.C. to the Yukon and the State of Alaska. The total distance from the junction of Highway 16 to the Yukon border is 725 kilometers (450 miles). Along the highway surrounded by mountain vistas are the Top 5 things to do in the Stikine communities of Iskut and Dease Lake. Take the turn at Dease Lake Experience true wilderness with endless outdoor and experience the winding Telegraph Creek Road (HWY 51). recreation opportunities in the Stikine Region. 1 Embrace the outdoors and set up camp at some of the largest provincial parks in British Proximity to other Communities Columbia. Mount Edziza, Spatsizi Wilderness Plateau, Boya Lake, and Kinaskan Lake Provincial Parks are all located in the Stikine and are well known for their hiking and fishing opportunities. MILEAGE ISKUT DEASE TELEGRAPH CHART LAKE CREEK 2 Grab your paddle and canoe or kayak at one of the lakes or rivers in the area. Some thrill Terrace 500 km 598 km 680 km seekers have made the journey on the Stikine River from Telegraph Creek, British Columbia to (6.5 hrs) (7.5 hrs) (9 hrs) Wrangell, Alaska over 10 river days, travelling downriver over 267 kilometers! Whitehorse 734 km 650 km 760 km 3 Iskut is home to the largest huckleberry patch in British Columbia as a result of a huge fire, (10 hrs) (8.5hrs) (11.5 hrs) which devastated the region almost fifty years ago. Bears can frequently be spotted digging into a huckleberry feast. Check out the wildlife or spend the day picking berries on the Iskut Prince 885 km 970 km 1,077 km Burn. George (10.5 hrs) (12 hrs) (15 hrs) Kelowna 1,595 km 1,678 km 1,786 km 4 For an adventurous journey back in time, take the 112-kilometer gravel road from Dease Lake (17.5 hrs) (19 hrs) (22 hrs) to Telegraph Creek along the Grand Canyon of the Stikine. Following a Tahltan trading route and the path of early gold prospectors, the road winds along the Stikine Canyon, with dramatic Edmonton 1,623 km 1,707 km 1,815 km views of the sheer walls cut by the river through layers of volcanic rock. (18.5 hrs) (20 hrs) (23 hrs) Vancouver 1,668 km 1,752 km 1,860 km 5 There are endless wildlife viewing opportunities in the Stikine. The region is home to the largest herd of Stone Sheep in the world, and BC’s largest concentration of woodland caribou gathers (19 hrs) (20.5 hrs) (23.5 hrs) in the Spatsizi for the rut. Spotting mountain goats on the rock walls of the Grand Canyon of the Seattle 1,779 km 1,862 km 1,970 km Stikine and snapping photos of bears, moose, lynx, and wolverines is all possible in a day trip. TOP 5 TOP (20.5 hrs) (21.5 hrs) (25 hrs) HERE GETTING Dease Lake Average Religious Centers Population for Stikine Region Education: and Churches Temperature Iskut: 648 Dease Lake: 475 Telegraph Creek: 400 Tahltan School (K-9): With approximately 40 students, school staff take pride in Telegraph Creek: High Low the continuous improved success their students have shown in academics. The school • St. Theresa’s Parish Top Employers Jan -13°C -22°C embraces and promotes local culture and traditions through activities such as Tahltan • s St. Aidan’ Parish April 7°C 5°C language lessons, fishing, trapping, camping and hunting. Dease Lake: Tahltan Nation Development Corporation July 19°C 6°C • Living Waters Christian Imperial Metals Dease Lake School (K-12): Serving approximately 110 students from around the Oct 6°C -3°C area, the school focuses on respecting Tahltan heritage and culture and looks forward to Community Church School District 87 the future with optimism. Students and staff at the Dease Lake School are equipped to • Samaritan’s Purse Dease Lake Northern Health be lifelong learners and committed to giving back something positive to the community. Ministry Centre • Church of St. Mary Magdelene Northern Lights College: Located in the heart of the Stikine, the Northern Iskut: Lights College Dease Lake Campus works closely with industry and business to meet • Church of Our Lady of Fatima the educational needs of their employees and the people who live in the region. The Dease Lake Campus holds short training courses such as Basic Fire-Fighting or Heavy Equipment Operator training to prepare students for potential work opportunities. Northern Lights College also offers a wide range of highly interactive courses that you can take entirely over the Internet. Healthcare: Stikine Health Centre: Serving a population of almost 2,000 from the surrounding area, the Stikine Health Centre has two full time physicians, three full time nurses and one full time combined laboratory/x-ray technician. Offering public health and palliative care services as well as physician clinics, residents are able to access healthcare services regularly in the Stikine region.