Nisga Lava Beds

Unser erster Ausflug fuehrte uns nach Terrace und von dort ca. 90km ins Land der Nisga

First Nations, vorbei am Kitsumkalum Lake, welcher einen der ersten Salmon Runs im

Jahr zelebriert, normalerweise Mitte Juni und weiter zum Lava Lake!

Vor ca 250 Jahren hat sich nach der juengsten kanadischen Eruption ein Lavastrom

im Nas River Valley ergossen und bedeckt nun ein Gelaende von 179km2.

2000 Menschen sind dabei umgekommen laut Nisga Ueberlieferung, zwei Ortschaften wurden

von Lave komplett bedeckt und ausgeloescht.

Fuer diejenigen welche Englisch lesen koennen ein Text aus Nisga Erzaehlung:

Wil Ksi Baxhl Mihl: Where the Fire Comes OutLong ago, two children were playing down by the river. One child caught a salmon and slit open its back. The child stuck sticks into the salmon's back, set them on fire, and returned the fish to the river. The children were amused to see the salmon swim erratically, smoke rising from its back. The other child caught a salmon and slit open its back, inserted a piece of shale, and put it back into the river. The salmon floated on its side, weighed down by the shale. The children laughed at the struggling fish.

An elder happened upon the scene and warned the children, "Take care what you do. The salmon will curse you and the Creator will respond in kind."

The ground began to tremble and shake. Nature's harmony had been upset. A scout was sent to investigate. From the top of Gennu'axwt, he saw smoke and flames and ran to warn the people of their fiery destiny. In panic, some villagers fled up the mountain. Others canoed to the far side of the river but were killed by the lava.

As the people watched the lava flow over their villages, Gwaxts'agat (a powerful supernatural being) suddenly emerged to block the lava's advance. For days, Gwaxts'agat fought back the lava by blowing on it with its great nose. Finally, the lava cooled and Gwaxts'agat retreated into the mountain where it remains to this day.

-from Nisga'a oral tradition

5 Ortschaften werden heute gezaehlt:

Gitlakdamix (New Aiyansh)

Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City)

Lakalzap (Greenville)

Kincolith and Nass Camp

Die Ortschaften befinden sich ueberwiegend am Nass River, welcher in den Sacred

Headwaters entspringt, wie auch der Skeena und Stikine River.

Es gibt eine Autotour durchs Territorium und am Campground befindet sich ein kleines Museum, welches die Geschichte der Nisga, wie auch wichtige historische Ereignisse austellt.