Cheslatta Trail facts for kids
The Cheslatta Trail is an ancient travel path in British Columbia, Canada. The Dakelh people, who are a First Nations group, used this trail for a very long time. It connected their villages on Cheslatta Lake to Nadleh Village on Fraser Lake. The trail was super important for trading goods, traveling, and sharing messages between communities.
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The Ancient Cheslatta Trail: A Path Through History
An Important Route for the Dakelh People
The Cheslatta Trail, also called Tsetl'adak ts'eti in the Carrier language, was a vital route for the Dakelh people. It stretched from their villages like Belhk'achek and Sdughachola on Cheslatta Lake. From there, it went all the way to Nadleh Village on Fraser Lake. This trail was like a highway for them, used for trading valuable items, moving between communities, and sending important news.
Where Did the Trail Go?
The Cheslatta Trail started near Cheslatta Lake. From there, it would have passed through areas that are now Beaumont Provincial Park. It also crossed what is now Highway 16 and went south of Dry William Lake.
Today, you can find the start of the trail at km 7.5 on the Holy Cross Forest Road. This spot is about 6 km west of Beaumont Park on Highway 16. The trail then goes through about 60 km of forest. Along the way, it passes several lakes, including Klez, Chowsunkut, Hallet, Bentzi, Targe, and Holy Cross Lakes. The trail finally ends at the site of the old Belhk'achek village. This village was located near where Knapp Creek flows into Cheslatta Lake.
How the Trail Connected to Other Paths
The Cheslatta Trail was part of a larger network of ancient routes. When it reached Nadleh Village, it connected with another important path called the Nyan Wheti. The Nyan Wheti trail went from Fraser Lake all the way to Stuart Lake. This shows how these trails helped people travel across a wide area of British Columbia.
The Trail's History: A Big Change in 1952
The Cheslatta Trail was used for many years. However, a big change happened in 1952. This was when the Alcan company built the Kenney Dam. The dam caused the Cheslatta River and Cheslatta Lake to flood. This flooding covered many areas, including the lakeside villages of the Cheslatta people. Because of the rising water, the Cheslatta people had to move from their homes. This event also changed parts of the ancient Cheslatta Trail.
