Our trip begins and ends in the territory of the Ts’msyen and the Sm’algya̱x speaking peoples. The land is very important to the Ts’msyen and is ingrained in language and culture.
The land is a connection between ancestors, the present, and the future. It is everybody’s responsibility to learn about Ts’msyen culture and relationships. We will also visit the territories of the Nisg̱a’a and of the Wet’suwet’en.
Łoomsk (Respect)
- Łoodis Lp’nuun (Respect yourself)
- Łooda sila gyedn (Respect others)
- Łooda txa’nii goo (Respect all things)
Rivers Road Trip
Introduction to the Ksiyeen (Skeena) River
- The Ksiyeen (river of mist, Skeena River) is 570 km long and flows through the territory of the Ts’msyen and the Gitxsan. Prince Rupert is within the territory of the Ts’msyen, whose language is Sm’algya̱x.
- The watershed of the Ksiyeen includes the territories of the Ts’msyen, Gitxsan, Wet’suwet’en, Haisla, and bordering First Nations. You will visit three cities within this watershed, including Prince Rupert, Terrace, and Smithers.
- The watershed of the Ksiyeen includes the territories of the Ts’msyen, Gitxsan, Wet’suwet’en, Haisla, and bordering First Nations. You will visit three cities within this watershed, including Prince Rupert, Terrace, and Smithers.
Introduction to the Kluusms (Nass) River (K’alii-Aksim-Lisims)
- The Kluusms is also known as the Nass. This is the Sm’algyax word for the river. In the Nisg̱a’a language, it is the K’alii-Aksim-Lisims. (We will be in Nisg̱a’a territory.)
- The K’alii-Aksim-Lisims flows through sacred mountains and dense forests on Canada’s Pacific Coast.
- The Nisg̱a’a people have lived in the Nass River Valley since before recorded time.
- We will visit Hli Goothl Wilp-Adokshl Nisg̱a’a (Nisg̱a’a Museum), which is located in the village of Lax̱g̱altsʼap.
Road Trip Overview
- Day 1 – Terrace (Monday March 31)
- Arrive at the airport, take the shuttle bus and ferry, arrive at the shuttle station in downtown Prince Rupert
- CHSS students will meet GMCS students, and then we will all bus together to Terrace
- We will eat pizza at Boston Pizza together
- We will bus to the elementary school where we will sleep (CHSS students will provide GMCS students with sleeping bag, pillow, and pad)
- Day 2 – Lax̱g̱altsʼap (Tuesday April 1)
- We have to wake early since it’s a school day (at the school that we are sleeping in) and we have a long drive today
- A “bag breakfast” with assorted breakfast foods will be provided
- We will bus to the village of Lax̱g̱altsʼap (this is a medium length bus ride on a school bus) and visit the museum
- After visiting the museum a “bag lunch” with assorted sandwiches and other lunch foods will be provided
- We will bus to Smithers (this is a long bus ride on a school bus)
- We will stay at a hotel in Smithers
- Dinner is on-your-own (assorted gift cards are provided for GMCS students for on-your-own meals)
- Day 3 – Smithers (Wednesday April 2)
- Meals today: Breakfast provided, lunch on-your-own, dinner on-your-own (assorted gift cards are provided for GMCS students for on-your-own meals)
- The morning in Smithers will be time for relaxing and visiting the small downtown (window shopping, book stores, cafes, sight seeing, etc.)
- Plan to wrap up free time activities around 1 PM (including meals)
- We will then drive back to Terrace (this is a 3.5-hour bus ride on a school bus), where we will watch a movie at the movie theatre
- We will bus to the elementary school where we will sleep (CHSS students will provide GMCS students with sleeping bag, pillow, and pad)
- Day 4 – Terrace (Thursday April 3)
- Meals today: Breakfast provided, lunch on-your-own, dinner on-your-own (assorted gift cards are provided for GMCS students for on-your-own meals)
- Today will include a large block for free time in the afternoon
- Options include: Public swims at the city pool, window shopping (until 5 PM), optional group hike in the afternoon, games/books in the Terrace library, and other small group options (based on your own interests)
- There will also be a hike in the morning
- We will all meet back at the public library after free time, and then bus to the to the elementary school where we will sleep for the last time this trip (CHSS students will provide GMCS students with sleeping bag, pillow, and pad)
- In the morning, we head back to Prince Rupert for the next part of the Exchange Trip
Billeting In Prince Rupert and Metlakatla
Introduction to Prince Rupert
- Established as a municipality in 1910, Prince Rupert is located on Ts’msyen territory – an area rich with history. What’s now called Prince Rupert harbour was long an intersection of trade and commerce for First Nations people dating back to time immemorial. Our City is tucked in between impressive mountains and the 3rd deepest natural harbour in the world. The rain and weather patterns characteristic of this place give us both our title as the ‘City of Rainbows’, as well as the lush natural landscapes of the Great Bear Rainforest. It also makes for a resilient population – ready to weather both literal and figurative storms.
Introduction to Metlakatla
- Metlakatla village is a progressive community, located 5km north of Prince Rupert, on an ancient site – occupied for thousands of years by the Metlakatla people. Metlakatla means ‘saltwater pass’ in Sm’algya̱x, the language of the Coast Ts’msyen. Today, Metlakatla members continue to enjoy their inherent rights and freedom to harvest traditional food, and honour our history on the land.
Billeting Overview
Day 5 – Prince Rupert/Metlakatla (Friday April 4)
- Today starts in Terrace, with breakfast provided. We wake up early and drive to Prince Rupert. When we arrive, we’ll unpack at CHSS. Then we’ll start our Prince Rupert explorations.
- First we will visit the Museum of Northern British Columbia.
- Then we will have lunch. Then we will visit Cow Bay.
- School is out at 3:01 PM. There will be free time. Host families pick up dinner between 5:00-5:30 PM from CHSS (MPR) for their guests. They will also pick up breakfast and lunch ingredients for the weekend.
- The rest of the day is free time in Prince Rupert (talk to your CHSS twin about planning ahead for this)
Day 6 – Prince Rupert/Metlakatla (Saturday April 5)
- Free time (talk to your CHSS twin about planning ahead for this)
- Fried Bread Taco Dinner is at 5:00 PM (for all CHSS and GMCS students) (organized by Grade 8s at the middle school who are going on the next Exchange Trip)
Final Day (Sunday April 6)
- Meet at the airport shuttle station at 12 noon.
- Lunch will be provided (bag lunch) for the GMCS students.
- Take the shuttle to the airport…
