Hartley Bay, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Hartley Bay is a First Nations community on the coast of British Columbia
. The village is located at the mouth of Douglas Channel
, about 630 kilometres (391.5 mi) north of Vancouver
and 145 kilometres (90.1 mi) south of Prince Rupert
. It is an isolated village accessible only by air and water with a population of 200.
It is home to the Gitga'ata
(sometimes Gitga'at or Gitk'a'ata), which means "People of the Cane." The Gitga'at are members of the Tsimshian
nation. About 200 band members live on the reserve and 500 members live off reserve in Prince Rupert, Vancouver or other regions. The community is served by seaplane and ferry from Prince Rupert. A distinctive feature of the community is the wooden boardwalks which are used rather than gravel roads.
s were formed in 1889, these being Kulkayu (Hartley Bay) Indian Reserve No. 4 and Kulkayu (Hartley Bay) Indian Reserve No. 4A (the community is physically on No. 4A). The ancient winter village of the Gitga'at, known today as Lax Galts'ap or "Old Town," is located 12 miles (19.3 km) north on Douglas Channel. There was also a village site in a small bay on Gil Island
, not far from where the Queen of the North sank. Capt. George Vancouver
anchored there in 1793, where he observed remains of houses. Both of these ancient sites continue to be used by the Gitga'at today, as they do other important resource and cultural sites within their traditional territories. The Gil Island site is Gill Island Indian Reserve No. 2.
Hartley Bay was established and settled in 1887 after a number of families left Metlakalta, B.C.
, where they had joined other Tsimshian people at the utopian mission begund by the lay minister William Duncan. When Duncan and his Tsimshian supporters moved to New Metlakatla, Alaska
, many of the Gitga'at returned to their traditional territories. However, they chose to settle at Txałgiu rather than their ancient village.
For most of the twentieth century, the fishing industry sustained the people of Hartley Bay. Today, however, with the decline of the fishing industry, employment has diversified, with tourism playing a significant role. For example, several Hartley Bay residents work at nearby fishing lodges during the summer as guides. Air service is through Hartley Bay Water Aerodrome
.
vessel Queen of the North, by arriving before the Canadian Coast Guard
. The town community centre was turned into a rescue center with the small community providing aid. According to Betsy Reece, "everyone not out on the water was helping keep people warm and fed at the cultural center." http://www.seattlepi.com/local/264040_bcferry23.html?source=rss
The town's populace received the Governor General
's Commendation for Outstanding Service on May 3, 2006, for "initiative, selflessness and an extraordinary commitment to the well-being of others" in the rescue; the honour also cites the town's "tremendous spirit and the remarkable example it has set". http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/04/28/ggawards-060428.html
British Columbia Coast
The British Columbia Coast or BC Coast is Canada's western continental coastline on the Pacific Ocean. The usage is synonymous with the term West Coast of Canada....
. The village is located at the mouth of Douglas Channel
Douglas Channel
Douglas Channel is one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast. Its official length from the head of Kitimat Arm, where the aluminum smelter town of Kitimat to Wright Sound, on the Inside Passage ferry route, is 90 km...
, about 630 kilometres (391.5 mi) north of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and 145 kilometres (90.1 mi) south of Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
. It is an isolated village accessible only by air and water with a population of 200.
It is home to the Gitga'ata
Gitga'ata
The Gitga'ata are one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation in British Columbia, Canada, and inhabit the village of Hartley Bay, British Columbia, the name of which in the Tsimshian language is Txałgiu. The name Gitga'ata in the Tsimshian language means "people of the cane"...
(sometimes Gitga'at or Gitk'a'ata), which means "People of the Cane." The Gitga'at are members of the Tsimshian
Tsimshian
The Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000...
nation. About 200 band members live on the reserve and 500 members live off reserve in Prince Rupert, Vancouver or other regions. The community is served by seaplane and ferry from Prince Rupert. A distinctive feature of the community is the wooden boardwalks which are used rather than gravel roads.
History and culture
The Gitga'at geographical name for the bay where the village is situated is Txałgiu. This name was anglicised to Kalkayu when Indian ReserveIndian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
s were formed in 1889, these being Kulkayu (Hartley Bay) Indian Reserve No. 4 and Kulkayu (Hartley Bay) Indian Reserve No. 4A (the community is physically on No. 4A). The ancient winter village of the Gitga'at, known today as Lax Galts'ap or "Old Town," is located 12 miles (19.3 km) north on Douglas Channel. There was also a village site in a small bay on Gil Island
Gil Island (Canada)
Gil Island is an island on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, located on the west side of Whale Channel in the entrance to Douglas Channel, one of the main coastal inlets, on the route of the Inside Passage between Pitt Island and Princess Royal Island. It is 26 km long, with a width...
, not far from where the Queen of the North sank. Capt. George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
anchored there in 1793, where he observed remains of houses. Both of these ancient sites continue to be used by the Gitga'at today, as they do other important resource and cultural sites within their traditional territories. The Gil Island site is Gill Island Indian Reserve No. 2.
Hartley Bay was established and settled in 1887 after a number of families left Metlakalta, B.C.
Metlakatla, British Columbia
Metlakatla, British Columbia, is a small community that is one of the seven Tsimshian village communities in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated at Metlakatla Pass near Prince Rupert, British Columbia...
, where they had joined other Tsimshian people at the utopian mission begund by the lay minister William Duncan. When Duncan and his Tsimshian supporters moved to New Metlakatla, Alaska
Metlakatla, Alaska
Metlakatla is a census-designated place on Annette Island in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,375.- History :...
, many of the Gitga'at returned to their traditional territories. However, they chose to settle at Txałgiu rather than their ancient village.
For most of the twentieth century, the fishing industry sustained the people of Hartley Bay. Today, however, with the decline of the fishing industry, employment has diversified, with tourism playing a significant role. For example, several Hartley Bay residents work at nearby fishing lodges during the summer as guides. Air service is through Hartley Bay Water Aerodrome
Hartley Bay Water Aerodrome
Hartley Bay Water Aerodrome is located adjacent to Hartley Bay, British Columbia, Canada....
.
The sinking of the Queen of the North in 2006
On March 22, 2006, the people of Hartley Bay helped rescue the passengers of the BC FerriesBC Ferries
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
vessel Queen of the North, by arriving before the Canadian Coast Guard
Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
. The town community centre was turned into a rescue center with the small community providing aid. According to Betsy Reece, "everyone not out on the water was helping keep people warm and fed at the cultural center." http://www.seattlepi.com/local/264040_bcferry23.html?source=rss
The town's populace received the Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
's Commendation for Outstanding Service on May 3, 2006, for "initiative, selflessness and an extraordinary commitment to the well-being of others" in the rescue; the honour also cites the town's "tremendous spirit and the remarkable example it has set". http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/04/28/ggawards-060428.html