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Nemaiah
Valley
The Nemaiah Valley is located 93 km (58
miles) southwest of Hanceville, on
Nemaiah Valley Road.
Chilcotin
War
Nemaiah Valley is the long-established community of the Xeni Gwet'in
First Nations, and for a long time, the land was cut off from the
rest of British Columbia. The lack of European settlement dates
back to a Xeni uprising called the Chilcotin War. This war against
the Europeans was brought about by a surveying expedition employed
by Alfred Waddington to find a trail the from the interior of BC
to Bute Inlet. Alfred Waddington wanted to find a faster route to
the west coast and the Salish Sea to Fort Alexandria, eventually
servicing the gold fields at Barkerville
in the Cariboo.
Lee's
Corner
To get here from Williams Lake,
take Hwy 20 and travel west towards Bella
Coola. When you reach the small stop of Hanceville or Lee's
Corner, turn south on Fletcher Lake Road, and then cross the Chilcotin
River Bridge. Once over the Chilcotin River, continue on Taseko
Lake Road through the community of the Yunesit'in First Nation,
Stone Indian Reserve No. 1, and travel through the Elegesi Qiyus
Wild Horse Preserve until you reach the Davidson Bridge Recreation
Site. From
here, cross over the Taseko River and then take Nemaiah Valley Road
past Konni Lake to the small First Nation community of Nemaiah Valley.
Mount
Ts'yl-os
As you travel past the Taseko River and the Davidson Bridge Recreation
Site, there will be panoramic views towards the south of Mount Ts'yl-os
(Mount Tatlow). In native folklore, the Elders describe Mount Ts'yl-os
as a place that keeps careful watch over the Xeni Gwet'in First
Nations, protecting their lands, and it can drastically alter the
weather for outsiders through these territories. There is a small
rustic campground at Davidson Bridge Recreation Site and access
to the Taseko River.
Xeni
Gwet'in First Nations
The First Nation community of Nemaiah Valley is very small, isolated,
and relatively undeveloped, with only around 100 inhabitants made
up of Xeni Gwet'in First Nations. Nemaiah Valley is comprised of
a post office, the Tl'ebayi Community Centre, the Xeni Gwet'in Enterprises
Tl'Edayi Laundry & Gas where there are gas, propane, internet,
and laundry services. Close by are residences and the Naghtaneqed
Elementary and Junior Secondary Schools.
Ts'yl?os
Provincial Park
If you continue on the main road past the community of Nemaiah Valley
about 18 km (11 miles), you'll come to Ts'yl?os Provincial Park
(pronounced "sigh-loss") where there is the Nu Chugh Beniz
Campground, backcountry parking, and a gravel boat launch plus access
to Chilko Lake. The lake can be extremely dangerous at any moment,
especially with sudden weather changes, so caution must be exercised
at all times.
Exploring
the Backroads
Along the route into Nemaiah Valley from Hanceville, there are opportunities
to explore other valleys, lakes, and rivers throughout the Southern
Chilcotin Region, a region referred to as the Brittany Triangle.
Make sure caution is exercised and that your navigational aids and
vehicle are up to date as the area is very remote and could be dangerous
if you are stranded.
Adventure
Lodges
For accommodation in the area, there are a number of primitive recreation
sites for camping plus a number of adventure lodges along a few
lakes in the region between Hanceville and Nemaiah Valley.
Information
on Nemaiah Valley
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click map for
larger image
Konni Lake
Taseko Lake Road
Mount Ts'yl-O's
(Mount Tatlow)
Xeni Gwet'in
Gas & Laundry
Road to Nu Chugh
Beniz Campground
Duff Island and
Chilko Lake
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