The Hartley Bay Indian Band is also known as the Gitga'at First Nation or the Hartley Bay First Nation.
The members of the Gitga'at First nation are often referred to as Gitka'a'ata. The population of Gitk’a’ata peoples living in Hartley Bay ranges from approximately 130-200 people.
There are also about 400-500 Gitk’a’ata peoples living in
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, a neighboring territory.
The Gitk’a’ata people have lived in
Hartley Bay for hundreds of years, if not always.
Some notable things regarding the Gitga'at First Nation are their economy, geography, government, sports involvement, COVID-19 regulations, and relations.
Economy
The Gitga'at Nation currently has a tourism-centric economy.
Some of the past economies for Hartley Bay were centered around fishing (selling fish, fishing lodges).
These methods still generate income in the present.
Tourism surrounding fishing lodges emerged in 2009 and became the most prominent source of income. It is still the most prominent.
There are also camps that are for recreational and educational activities such as radio and industrial construction.
These camps are usually executed as "boot camps" and are advertised to give job opportunities.
There are also constant job postings on the Gitga'at First Nation social media pages.
Geography
The area of Hartley Bay is large and for the most part undeveloped and forest.
It is bordered by Prince Rupert,
Kitimat, and several islands off the west coast of British Columbia.
Government
The current counsel is made up by Arnold Clifton (Chief Councilor), Cam Hill, Marven Robinson, Bruce Reece, and Simone Reece (councilors).
There are representatives known as "Guardians" that work towards preserving and protecting their territory from others that may use harmful ways of getting resources on their territory.
In addition to Guardians, the community values it's environment and land, so typically the Guardians are focused on any potential threats to the territory.
The Guardians do many tasks including protecting the ocean from fisheries riding the line of the territory and conducting research to protect coastal habitats and endangered species.
Sports
The Gitga'at First Nation has participated in the
All Native Basketball Tournament.
Covid-19
There are requirements for visiting Hartley Bay due to the pandemic.
Such requirements include vaccination status and British Columbian passport.
Relations
Hartley Bay Indian Band entered a treaty with Canada and British Columbia known as The Gitga'at Treaty.
The treaty is still in progress but is gearing towards ownership of certain areas of land and the right to use it as they please (hunt, fish, develop, reserve, etc.)
In 2003, The Hartley Bay Indian Band made a deal with British Columbia to settle a land dispute in for the right to tree cutting licenses and a cash payment.
The Gitga'at First Nation first encountered Europeans in the early 1800s.
Katherine Turner has made several dissertations that include the Hartley Bay Band.
Indian reserves
Indian reserves under the administration of the Hartley Bay First Nation are:
*
Gander Island Indian Reserve No. 14, on one of the islands of the
Moore Group, off the west coast of
Aristazabal Island Aristazabal Island (french: île Aristizabal) is an island situated south west of Princess Royal Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has an area of . The island was named on August 30, 1792, by Lieutenant Commander Jacinto Caamaño
Jacinto Caama ...
in
Hecate Strait, 121.40 ha. (300.0 acres)
*
Gill Island Indian Reserve No. 2, on the left bank of the
Quaal River The Quaal River is a river in the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, flowing south into Kitkiata Inlet in the British Columbia Coast, North Coast region.
Indian reserves
Quaal Indian Reserve No. 3 of the Kitkaata Nat ...
, at its mouth on
Kitkiata Inlet Kitkiata Inlet is an inlet on the British Columbia Coast, North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, off the west side of Douglas Channel. Kitkiata Creek flows into the inlet from the north at . Up it at is Kitkiata Lake.
Located on Kitkiata Inlet ...
in
Douglas Channel
Douglas Channel is one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast. Its official length from the head of Kitimat Arm, where the aluminum smelter town of Kitimat to Wright Sound, on the Inside Passage ferry route, is . The actual length o ...
, 0.10 ha. (0.25 acres)
*
Gribble Island Indian Reserve No. 10, on the west coast of
Gribbell Island, between Verney and Ursula Channels, 2.0 h.a (5.0 acres)
*
Kahas Indian Reserve No. 7, on west coast of
Princess Royal Island at Barnard Harbour, 16.50 ha (40.8 acres)
*
Kayel Indian Reserve No. 8, on west shore of
Princess Royal Island fronting on
Campania Sound
Campania Sound is a sound on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, located between Campania Island and Princess Royal Island
Princess Royal Island is the largest island on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is located amongst ...
, 1.60 ha. (4.0 acres)
*
Kitkahta Indian Reserve No. 1, on the north short of
Kitkiata Inlet Kitkiata Inlet is an inlet on the British Columbia Coast, North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, off the west side of Douglas Channel. Kitkiata Creek flows into the inlet from the north at . Up it at is Kitkiata Lake.
Located on Kitkiata Inlet ...
of
Douglas Channel
Douglas Channel is one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast. Its official length from the head of Kitimat Arm, where the aluminum smelter town of Kitimat to Wright Sound, on the Inside Passage ferry route, is . The actual length o ...
, 112.50 ha. (278.0 acres)
*
Kulkayu (Hartley Bay) Indian Reserve No. 4, on south shore of Hartley Bay of Douglas Channel, 130.70 ha. (323.0 acres)
*
Kulkayu (Hartley Bay) Indian Reserve No. 4A, adjacent to Kulkayu (Hartley Bay) IR No. 4, 45.30 ha. (112.0 acres)
*
Kunhunoan Indian Reserve No. 13, on Small Bay, west coast of Gil Island, near Black Rock Point on
Squally Channel
A squall is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed lasting minutes, as opposed to a wind gust, which lasts for only seconds. They are usually associated with active weather, such as rain showers, thunderstorms, or heavy snow. Squalls refer to t ...
, 2.30 ha. (5.7 acres)
*
Lachkul-jeets Indian Reserve No. 6, on the east side of
Fin Island
Fin Island is an island in the North Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, to the northwest of Gil Island between Cridge and Lewis Passages.
Lachkul-jeets Indian Reserve No. 6 is on the island's east side at , and is 1.60 ha. (4.0 acr ...
west of
Gil Island, Hecate Sound, 1.60 ha. (4.0 acres)
*
Lackzuswadda Indian Reserve No. 9, on an island at the entrance to
Surf Inlet, west coast of
Princess Royal Island, 2.20 ha. (5.4 acres)
*
Maple Point Indian Reserve No. 11, at Maple Point, east shore of Gil Island between Squally and
Whale Channel
Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placental marine mammals. As an informal and colloquial grouping, they correspond to large members of the infraorder Cetacea, i.e. all cetaceans apart from dolphins and ...
s off Hecate Sound, 50.20 ha. (124.0 acres)
*
Quaal Indian Reserve No. 3, on right bank of the
Quaal River The Quaal River is a river in the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, flowing south into Kitkiata Inlet in the British Columbia Coast, North Coast region.
Indian reserves
Quaal Indian Reserve No. 3 of the Kitkaata Nat ...
, one mile (1.6 km) west of the mouth of
Kitkiata Inlet Kitkiata Inlet is an inlet on the British Columbia Coast, North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, off the west side of Douglas Channel. Kitkiata Creek flows into the inlet from the north at . Up it at is Kitkiata Lake.
Located on Kitkiata Inlet ...
of Douglas Channel, 29 ha. (72 acres).
*
Quaal Indian Reserve No. 3A, an addition to Quaal IR No. 3, 74.50 ha. (184.0 acres)
*
Turtle Point Indian Reserve No. 12, at Turtle Point, north end of Gil Island, fronting on
Wright Sound, 51.80 ha. (128.0 acres)
BC Names/GeoBC entry "Turtle Point 12 (Indian reserve)"
/ref>
References
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Tsimshian governments
North Coast of British Columbia