Grandfathers’ trails stretches as far as the eye could see and beyond. There was a lot of common trail that networked Carrier land. They were considered to be safe and friendly route. The Grease Trail led to the western edge of Carrier territory to trade for oolican and coastal goods.  They followed the streams and rivers that crisscrossed our area.  With evidence acknowledging archeological remains at all the surrounding lakes the number of people Father Morice suggest are here could be double that figure. The recent activity before contact, Stellat’en camped in places that were suitable for salmon, char and white fish.

Click on the image for a larger map of Stellat'en Trails throughout the region - Courtesy of Stellat'en Archives.

Stellat’en has used this location since time immemorial. It is a sacred site for women attaining their spiritual powers. These spiritual sites are treated with great respect and have been used by our ancestors to acquire spiritual powers for the betterment and harmony of Stellat’en and their environment.
 

It is known as Red rock and it is the opposing end of Tse koo shun k’ut. Red Rock is an extinct volcano complete with lava cone. This is the place where the men go to attain their spiritual powers to became Shaman or Dreamers.

Click on the link below to learn about how Stellat'en First Nation dealt with the changing of the seasons, gave weight to lunar cycles, and how they lived off the land while wasting nothing. 

Surviving the Seasons 

Arrow heads have been found near war sites or places where they have been manufactured.  The territories have been carved out with war and since then defended.  People travelling common trading routes were allowed safe passage; you left the path at your own risk.

The late Andrew Louie commented on a meeting of chiefs that took several days, discussing issues and how to resolve them amicably. Instead of using violence to sort their differences a big gathering would take place to resolve their problems. This helped to develop the Bahlats. At the end of debate when the chiefs started to leave, they each left behind a rock which eventually grew into a pile. Andrew Louie referred to a location on the eastern shore of Francois Lake. 
 

Isaac Chasyak requested that Binta Lake be set aside for future Stellat’en to use and manage.  Binta Lake is part of the network of lakes and Rivers Stellat’en used to hunt and fish on their traditional territory.

The traditional Carrier way of life was based on seasonal cycles of activities with the greatest activity in the summer when berries were gathered and fish caught and preserved. The mainstay of the economy was fish, especially the several varieties of salmon, which were smoked and stored for the winter in large numbers. Hunting and trapping of deer, caribou, moose, elk, black bear, beaver and rabbit provided meat, fur for clothing and bones for tools. Other fur bearing animals were trapped to some extent but until the advent of the fur trade, such trapping was probably a minor activity. With the exception of berries and the sap and cambium of the lodgepole pine, plants played a relatively minor role as food, though Carrier people used a variety of edible plants and plants were used extensively for medicine. Winter activity was more limited with some hunting and trapping and ice fishing. Although many Carrier people now have jobs and otherwise participate in the non traditional economy, fish, game and berries still constitute a major portion of their diet.

For a closer look at the photo of Binta Lake Ir #2 Shawn Baker - Courtesy of Stellat'en Archives, click on the image above.