Ła Bała Sg̱an (“The Mat Is Spread”)
CHSS is a secondary school in SD52, which includes the communities of Port Edward, Metlakatla and Hartley Bay (the Gitga’at First Nation), as well as Prince Rupert.
Prince Rupert is a port city situated on Kaien Island, just north of the mouth of the Skeena River, which lies at the heart of the traditional territory of the Ts’msyen First Nation. This territory is bordered by the neighbouring nations of the Gitxsan, Nisga’a, Haida, Haisla, Wet’suwet’en, and Heiltsuk people.
Prince Rupert was established in 1910 as the terminus of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (now CN Rail). It is the transportation hub of BC’s north coast through land, air and water, and has a population of approximately 13,000. The city enjoys a mild oceanic climate and is located in a temperate rainforest.
The Rivers
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. We learn about the cultures of our region by travelling along the routes of three important rivers to our region: Ksiyeen, K’alii-Aksim-Lisims, Wet’sinkwha (also knowns as the Skeena, Nass, and Bulkley Rivers).
- Ksiyeen (Skeena River)
- K’alii-Aksim-Lisims (Nass River)
- Wet’sinkwha (Bulkley River) (which feeds into the Skeena)
These rivers help sustain the Ts’msyen, Gitxsan, Nisg̱a’a, and Wet’suwet’en nations, and are important to the Haisla, Tinglit, and Tahltan nations. We will also learn about neighbouring Haida Gwaii, an archipelago of the Haida (reachable by an eight-hour ferry ride from Prince Rupert).
Trip Overview
Meals and Homestays
- All meals are provided for our twin guests and CHSS students on the trip
- Some meals are “on-your-own” in the cities we visit (all with walkable downtown)
- For “on-your-own” meals gift cards are provided for all students (both schools) at the start of the trip ($25 McDonalds, $25 Tim Horton’s, and $25 Subway)
- Other meals are bag breakfasts and bag lunches
- In addition, there are hot meals and group meals at restaurants (including take out pizza delivered to each host home on Day 6)
- Hot breakfast on Day 2 at CHSS
- Picnic (hot dogs, etc.) on Day 2 at Lakelse Covered Picnic Site on the way to Smithers
- Group dinner at Boston Pizza on Day 5 in Terrace
- Local and traditional foods meal during the school visit on Day 5
- Take out pizza delivered to each host home on Day 5
- BBQ burgers and potluck on Day 6
- Closing hot breakfast on Day 7
- Two meals are provided at twin houses (dinner on Day 1 and breakfast on Day 7)
- There are two nights at student homes – these are organized as “super twin” homestays with two sets of twins (two students from CHSS, two students from the guest school, for a total of four students at each homestay) (smaller homestays are also provided if requested and we will work with each guest student to ensure that their needs and preferences are met)
Day 1 – Sunday
- Arrive by plane to YPR (the Prince Rupert Airport)
- Take an airport shuttle bus via a short ferry ride to downtown Prince Rupert
- We will meet your school at the airport shuttle station
- Twins host visiting students with dinner at their homes (includes time for showering)
- Gather back at CHSS for a movie and sleep over as a group
- Sleep at CHSS
Day 2 – Monday
- Hot breakfast served after waking up
- Load the bus and start the drive along the Ksiyeen (Skeena River) to the Wet’sinkwha (Bulkley River) from Prince Rupert to Smithers
- Along the route to Smithers, make stops at:
- Stop at the Memorial Totem Pole at Kaien Island Bridge
- Stop at first rest stop along the Ksiyeen River (Skeena)
- Stop in Terrace for a short break
- Stop at Lakelse Covered Picnic Site (hot dogs and other picnic foods for lunch)
- Photo stop at 7 Sisters Mountains
- View the Gitwangak Battle Hill National Historic Site
- Stop at gas station outside of Kitwanga for rest stop
- Stop in New Hazelton to view the Hagwilget Canyon Bridge over the Wet’sinkwha River (Bulkley) and to view the Ksan Historical Village
- Sleep at Sandman Hotel (or other similar hotel)
Day 3 – Tuesday
- Visit shops, cafes, and other amenities in the town of Smithers (Morning to 1 PM)
- Learn about the Wet’suwet’en and their culture
- Travel back to Terrace
- Hike at Ferry Island Park outside of Terrace (moderate hike)
- Movie night in Terrace (movie, popcorn, soda, and candy)
- Sleep at École Mountainview
Day 4 – Wednesday
- Travel to the Nisga’a Nation and learn about its territory and culture
- Likely sites include:
- Gitwinksihlkw Suspension Bridge
- Anhluut’ukwsim Lax̱mihl Angwinga’asanskwhl Nisg̱a’a Park (Memorial Lava Bed Park)
- Hli Goothl Wilp-Adokshl Nisg̱a’a (Nisg̱a’a Museum)
- Sleep at École Mountainview or at an another school or community centre
Day 5 – Thursday
- Free time day in Terrace (shops, cafes, swimming, and other amenities)
- Optional hike up Terrace Mountain
- Optional day swimming at the public pool (no cost, paid by the trip)
- Group dinner at Boston Pizza
- Optional evening swimming at the public pool (no cost, paid by the trip) or games at the public library
- Sleep at École Mountainview
Day 6 – Friday
- Drive back to Prince Rupert
- Visit CHSS
- Orientation and Tour
- Student-Led Cultural Program
- Local and Traditional Foods
- Other Activities
- Start homestays
- Students stay in “super twin” groups with two sets of twins (two students from CHSS, two students from guest school, total of four students per homestay)
- Other arrangements are possible, including a smaller single twin homestay, if requested
- Take out pizza is delivered to each homestay group
Day 7 – Saturday
- Half-day group hike
- Free time
- BBQ burgers and potluck dinner
Day 8 – Sunday
- Closing group breakfast
- Depart from the shuttle station for bus and ferry back to the airport
