Honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with an educational self-guided hike up the Kw’okw’echíwel Stl’áleqem “Lookout of the Two-Headed Serpent” trail, known locally as Dragon’s Back.
The trail is located in S’ólh Téméxw (“our world” in the Halq’eméylem), known by non-Indigenous peoples as Hope, BC. Local Interpreters will be stationed throughout the trail sharing their knowledge about the important Stó:lō history of the landscape. Not a hiker? Join us down at the trailhead where you will find various presenters, music, local arts and crafts vendors, and the Golden Bannock food truck selling food and drinks.
September 30, 2022 marks the 2nd annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. It’s a chance to engage and educate people about B.C.’s colonial history, encourage deeper reflection, learning and public dialogue on the relationship Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and how it has impacted Indigenous communities – a vital component of the reconciliation process. This event’s purpose is to share information about the significance of the Kw’okw’echíwel Stl’áleqem (Dragon’s Back) trail – the Indigenous historical and cultural relationship to it, highlighting the beauty and resilience of indigeneity, and the strengthening of bonds with allies as we navigate this complex and meaningful day.
Learn more about the trail at https://hopemountain.org/dragons-back-kwokwechiwel-stlaleqem-trail/
COST
Free of charge to enter/participate (learn, hike). Please register here so we know how many people to expect. Items such as food, drinks and art will be available for purchase from local vendors present.
PHYSICAL DEMAND
This event is aimed at people of all abilities and fitness levels. Interpreters will be stationed at various points of interest along the trail so people can stay at the main staging area in the parking lot/trailhead, or hike to any, or all points along the trail.
The trail is 5.8 km return, with 437 cumulative elevation gain over moderate, forested terrain. with many steep steps to climb up and down. There will be lots of opportunities to rest and enjoy the surroundings as you explore. Participants wishing to hike the entire trail should be in reasonably good physical condition.
Everyone is encouraged to attend.
Please check the weather forecast and dress appropriately.
ITINERARY
Friday, September 30, 2022
9:00 AM – Event commences. Interpreters will be stationed along the trail. Presenters will be set up in the parking lot. Vendors will be open.
9:30 AM – Opening comments in the parking lot
2:00 PM – Event wrap-up
MEETING PLACE
Kw’okw’echíwel Stl’áleqem (Dragon’s Back) trailhead/parking lot
Silver Skagit Road, Hope BC
See MAP
To find the event location, enter “Kw’okw’echíwel Stl’áleqem (Dragon’s Back)” in Google Maps, or follow Silver Skagit Road south from Flood Hope Rd approximately 1.5 km until you reach a small gravel road on the right that leads you uphill to the very large gravel parking area where the event will be set up. The beginning of the trail is located at the very end of the parking area in the far-left corner beside the wooden kiosk. This access road (approximately 100 m in length) is rough gravel and may feel too steep for some vehicles. Cars uncomfortable with driving a steep gravel road can park on the side of Silver Skagit Rd and walk up the 100 meters to the parking lot. The first half of the lot will be allocated for parking; the half closest to trailhead will be taped off the day before for event setup.
TRANSPORTATION
Participants must arrange their own transportation.
How to find the trailhead and Parking Lot:
To find the event location, enter “Kw’okw’echíwel Stl’áleqem (Dragon’s Back)” in Google Maps, or follow Silver Skagit Road south from Flood Hope Rd approximately 1.5 km until you reach a small gravel road on the right that leads you uphill to the very large gravel parking area where the event will be set up. The beginning of the trail is located at the very end of the parking area in the far-left corner beside the wooden kiosk. This access road (approximately 100 m in length) is rough gravel and may feel too steep for some vehicles. Cars uncomfortable with driving a steep gravel road can park on the side of Silver Skagit Rd and walk up the 100 meters to the parking lot. The first half of the lot will be allocated for parking; the half closest to trailhead will be taped off the day before for event setup.
WHAT TO BRING
Whenever you are hiking, you should always carry The Essentials
At a minimum, participants will need the following for this outing:
- Two poles per person – optional, but greatly improves stability
- Lunch and high-energy snack food
- Water (at least 1 litre per person)
- Hand sanitizer and COVID-19 face mask
- Rain jacket,
- Hiking shoes/boots
- Sunglasses
- Camera, binocularsFoam pad to sit on
- Backpack to carry all your gear
CANCELLATION
With consideration of COVID-19 global pandemic, we ask every participant to self assess for symptoms before participating and please stay home if you are feeling unwell.
The event will run regardless of weather conditions, unless we determine that it will affect the safety of attendees.
A NOTE ABOUT LIABILITY
Hope Mountain Centre carries liability insurance and maintains excellent safety records. Due to the nature of outdoor programs, these trips do involve some personal risk. Hope Mountain Centre assumes no responsibility for personal injury or damage to personal property and we will require each participant to sign a liability release and assumption of risk form before participating in this program.
Please be aware that activities typical of this program involve many risks, dangers and hazards including, but not limited to: accidents which occur during transportation or travel to and from events; slips and falls; loss of balance; impact, cold water immersion; repetitive strain injuries; dislocated shoulders; hypothermia, frostbite, sunburn; changing and inclement weather conditions including storms, blizzards, whiteouts and high wind; steepness of terrain, tree wells, crevasses; avalanches, cornices, landslides and falling ice, snow and objects; encounters with domestic or wild animals; negligence on the part of releasees and other participants.
This is an inclusive program and we welcome all people.
This is a dog-friendly trail but please respect others knowing that it will be especially busy this day.
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Indigenous History Self-Guided Hike -National Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Program: Indigenous History Self-Guided HikeWhen: Friday, September 30, 2022
Where: S’ólh Téméxw (“our world” in the Halq’eméylem), known locally as Hope, BC
Kw’okw’echíwel Stl’áleqem “Lookout of the Two-Headed Serpent” trail, known locally as Dragon’s Back
Cost: FREE event
For more information, please contact Tunde at 604-869-1274, or email at tmurphy@hopemountain.org.
PROGRAM LEADERS
Kelly Pearce
Trails Director/Speaker
Kelly is one of the founders of Hope Mountain Centre. He has worked as Program Director from 2009 to 2021, establishing many of the successful programs and projects that are delivered each year. In 2022, Kelly took on the new role of Trails Director responsible for maintaining local trails and building new trails in partnership with a variety of stakeholders. Kelly studied resource management at BCIT and SFU and has 30 years’ experience in outdoor education and interpretation.
Yvette John
Speaker
Yvette is Sto:lo meaning -People of the Fraser River- and is from Chawathil First Nations. Her healing journey began over 24 years ago; traditionally, culturally, and spiritually. Many of those years have been spent working alongside elders, spiritual healers, teachers and people of many different cultures and hierarchies. She has extensive knowledge of traditional plants and medicine. Yvette is a caretaker, works in archeology, and also works with storytelling, Salish weaving, spiritual cleansing, and runs sweat lodges. Yvette’s talk is entitled -Traditional plants and Medicine. - This knowledge, which is common to First Nations people, has been passed on to her by her mother Ida John, elders, herbologists and botanists.
Lisa Dojack
Speaker
Lisa has been working with the Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre since 2012 as an archaeologist and has been involved in excavations in partnership with the SRRMC since 2008. She received a MA in anthropology with a concentration in archaeology from UBC in 2012 and a BA in archaeology from SFU in 2009. Lisa works alongside Stó:lō communities on a wide variety of projects and has extensive knowledge of S’ólh Téméxw, not only from her decade of experience as an archaeologist but also as a result of her passion for getting out on the landscape.
Mariko Adams
Speaker
Mariko graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Anthropology with a focus in Archaeology and began working in consulting archaeology that same year. Mariko currently works as a Northwest Coast Field Director with Inlailawatashand has experience with supervising preliminary field reconnaissance programs, archaeological impact assessments, and archaeological overview assessments for a variety of sectors. She has experience completing Heritage Conservation Act and First Nations permit applications, conducting background research, project reporting, data management, and artifact cataloguing and analysis. She was the Field Supervisor working Stó:lō Reseach and Resource Management Centre to create the Archaeological Impact Assessment of the Kw’okw’echíwel Stl’áleqem (Dragon’s Back) trail.
AT WEL, David Gutierrez
Speaker
David Gutierrez is from Chawathil First Nation. His traditional name, AT WEL, was given to him by his mother 30 years ago. From a young age he learned storytelling, as well as drumming, from his mom Xwiyálemot, Matilda “Tillie” Gutierrez, and while working in the Hope School District. While learning storytelling, David also learned how to use the Halq’eméylem language and local history - learning the place names in the Hope area, knowing the stories, connecting to the land.
Nate Brown
Trail Crew Leader
Nate has lived in Hope for the past 15 years and spent most of his time on the local trails with his family. He joined Hope Mountain Centre as a volunteer three years ago and have both volunteered and been employed ever since. His first build project with HMC was the Kw’okw’echíwel Stl’áleqem trail and building the stone staircases with Jerome Guay. He continues to maintain and improve the trail as required. He says - Trail work has become my passion. I love creating accessibility to nature and encouraging others to get outside. I especially enjoy seeing other families out on the trails!
