Kitselas Canyon, National historic site and canyon in Kitselas, Canada.
Kitselas Canyon is a gorge cut by the Skeena River on the Kitselas Indian Reserve Number One, containing multiple archaeological remains and natural rock formations. The site spreads across a landscape of steep canyon walls and excavated areas that reveal five distinct settlement locations.
The canyon shows evidence of 5000 years of human presence, with two permanent Tsimshian villages developing there. These settlements controlled important trade routes between the coast and inland regions during the 1800s.
The site displays Tsimshian cultural expressions through petroglyphs, totem poles, and grave markers still visible in the rock and landscape. These elements show how the Tsimshian people organized their communities and left their mark on this place over many generations.
The Canyon Trail leads visitors through hemlock and spruce forests to viewing platforms offering views of the archaeological landscape. The pathway is well-maintained and includes several stopping points to observe the different sites along the route.
The Gitlaxdzok settlement within the canyon was a fortified village that controlled fur trade between coastal regions and the Hudson's Bay Company. This position made the location a strategic trading hub that became wealthy and politically influential in the region.
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