Around 250 members of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation gathered Thursday, Aug. 1 for a ceremony in response to the Chilcotin River landslide.
Between July 30 and July 31, a landslide near Ilnicki Ranch at Riske Creek brought down debris creating a dam measuring 30 metres high and 600 metres long that is blocking the river completely.
Thursday's ceremony took place at the first lookout on the Farwell Canyon Road overlooking an area about 20 kilometres downstream from the slide area.
“We are spiritual people,” said Tŝilhqot’in National Government tribal chair and Tl’etinqox Chief Joe Alphonse.
“Everything we do we have a song and ceremony for.”
The Farwell Canyon area is referred to as Nagwentled by the Tŝilhqot’in people, a word which means slide area, the chief explained.
“It is a huge event,” Alphonse said of the slide.
When the ground gives way such as it did in the landslide the Tŝilhqot’in people see it as a sign things are not right and need to change, he said.
“Ceremony is to acknowledge that and ask the Creator for help with our salmon runs.”
Salmon were expected to start showing up in Farwell Canyon, a spot known for food and ceremonial fishing for First Nations people, in the middle of August.
It was going to be a crucial run because four years ago the run was interrupted by the Big Bar Slide in the Fraser River, Alphonse said.
Peyal Laceese, cultural ambassador for Tl’esqox Nation, invited everyone to walk to the edge of the lookout area overlooking the canyon where there would be prayers and song.
He asked that no photographs or videos be taken to respect the spiritual aspects of the ceremony.
Xeni Gwet’in natural resources worker Alex Lulua had the opportunity to fly over the slide area Thursday morning.
He said he had seen photographs and videos of the area the day before but wasn’t prepared to see what he did with his own eyes.
“When it bursts it is going to be catastrophic,” Lulua said. “There are a lot of trees inside that so-called Ilnicki Lake."
Smiling he explained locals are calling it that because it’s right in front of the Ilnicki Ranch.
When asked if he is a fisherman, he responded ‘heck ya.'
“My passion is fishing. I love salmon fishing," he said. "I fish all year round, whether it’s in rivers, lakes and I travel many different waters in B.C. fishing.”
Sid Harry referred to a video he saw of the flyover Thursday morning and said it showed the river bed shows a low volume of water far downstream from the slide to where Big Creek flows into the Chilcotin River.
"That's a distance of about 10 kilometres," he said.
Tl’esqox First Nation is the community closest to the slide area, and band councillor and housing manager Joey Isnardy said they should be gathering for ceremonies every year Farwell Canyon.
“This is my first ceremony ever, so I’m learning as I go," he said.
Tl’esqox councillor Violet Fuller said it was powerful having so many people show up.
“There is a lot of strength standing right here,” she said. “We are here with you and our prayers go out the nation.”
Tl’etinqox elder Bonnie Alphonse is someone who also loves fishing and preparing salmon.
She had only one word to describe the landslide.
"Devastating."
