Hazleton, BC,; 8/29/2007

Yesterday, we drove a short distance from Stewart and are now in Hazleton, BC.

Hazleton is in the middle of several Native American villages, and the site of a reconstructed Gitksan Indian village, Ksan. We visited Ksan yesterday, and the handcrafts exhibited there were quite striking. There are several reconstructed longhouses, which contained exhibits demonstrating their way of life. There were exhibits of dancing paraphernalia, such as rattles, masks, and special robes … all very beautiful and tastefully displayed.

My interest was captivated by totem poles. Yesterday we passed an Indian Village; where there are some of the oldest totem poles in the area, but we somehow missed the turn did not see them. Here at the Ksan Museum, there are several totem poles, carved just for the museum. Today we drove about ten miles to town of Kispiox, where there is a stand of totem poles. These were interesting, because many of the poles had carvings about one-half way to the top, and then usually, but not always something carved on the top. Later we found out that totem poles used to be placed in front of homes, and these poles had actually been moved from their original site.

We made further inquiries and learned a little more. Totem poles are carved horizontally, before they are erected. It takes about two years to carve a pole. The totem poles usually depict a family’s history. The bottom figure represents the clan or present family that has the pole, and the figures above, represents the genealogy of the family, with different figures representing clans of forbearers, with the most ancient ancestors on top. Sometimes there will be figures to represent some event or accomplishment that occurred by the clan’s ancestors.

In former days totem poles were erected in front of a family’s home, but now they are put up just about anywhere. If a totem pole falls, it is not to be moved. There are times when poles fall in a road, and the road has to be moved.

As we travel, we have noticed that every person has a story to tell about themselves, if only you can get them to tell it, and you are willing to listen. I suppose that is why it is so interesting to meet so many people in our wandering type of life-style. My inability to hear these life stories is one of the worse things about my hearing disability.

We are now learning, not does every person have a story to tell, every small town also has a story. Hazleton, BC is no exception. After circulating through the town, and visiting the local historical museum, we learned that Hazleton was once important as a transportation center. It was the head of navigation on the Skeena River, and was regularly supplied by paddle-wheeled steam boats. The Hudson Bay Company received the goods here which in turn were sent into the interior for trading. Hazleton was also the jumping- off place, for a number of small gold rushes in the interior o British Columbia. Later, the telegraph came to Hazleton and the line was continued to Dawson. There was also an ill-stared scheme to extend the telegraph from Canada across the Bering Straits, and on across Asia to Europe. The wire got laid as far as Hazleton, when the whole plan collapses due successful completion of the Atlantic Cable. A warehouse with a huge amount of cable, of now of little value, was abandoned --- well not really abandoned, but given to the Indians, who used it to fashion various types of tools. A northern trans-Canadian railroad route was established, which bypassed Hazleton, and after that the town did not continue to flourish; in fact, a new town, New Hazleton, sprung up near the railroad. Now Old Hazleton is a small village, and I suspect heavily dependent on tourists for its survival.