Moricetown
Encyclopedia
Moricetown is a Wet'suwet'en
village in Central British Columbia
, Canada
. The current village was built during early 1900s. Evidence of inhabitants date back to around 4,000 years ago. The original name of the village was 'Kyah Wiget. It was renamed for the pioneer missionary Father Adrien-Gabriel Morice
.
(33), Kitwanga, British Columbia
(81), Terrace, British Columbia
(172), Kitimat, British Columbia
(230), and Prince Rupert, British Columbia
(316). East of Moricetown is Smithers, British Columbia
(31), Telkwa, British Columbia
(48), Houston, British Columbia
(97), Topley, British Columbia (127), and Prince George, British Columbia
(401).
and less than 5% understand the language, but do not speak it. The Band is known as the Moricetown Band, and it is currently participating in the British Columbia Treaty Process
.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
department. The WUAJ Program has been in place since 1995, offering an Alternative Justice Program for first-time, non-violent First Nations offenders. The WUAJ office is presently in the chief's office in Smithers, B.C.
A Wet'suwet'en Language Authority created by fluent speakers and creating innovative ways to engage with NON FLUENT speakers and starting Early learning in the schools and homes.
http://www.firstvoices.ca
communities include the Burns Lake Indian Band, Wet'suwet'en First Nation
(formerly known as Broman Lake Band), and Hagwilget Village.
Wet'suwet'en
Wet'suwet'en are a First Nations people who live on the Bulkley River and around Broman Lake and Francois Lake in the northwestern Central Interior of British Columbia...
village in Central British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The current village was built during early 1900s. Evidence of inhabitants date back to around 4,000 years ago. The original name of the village was 'Kyah Wiget. It was renamed for the pioneer missionary Father Adrien-Gabriel Morice
Adrien-Gabriel Morice
Adrien-Gabriel Morice was a missionary priest belonging to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He served as a missionary in Canada, and created a writing system for the Carrier language.-Early life:...
.
Facts
- Population: Approximately 815 on-reserve, Approximately, 800 off-reserve, throughout B.C. and Canada
- Government: The traditional governing system is the feast system, related in concept to the potlatchPotlatchA potlatch is a gift-giving festival and primary economic system practiced by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and United States. This includes Heiltsuk Nation, Haida, Nuxalk, Tlingit, Makah, Tsimshian, Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Coast Salish cultures...
of coastal peoples; however, the Wetsuweten people do currently have the elected Band Council system.
- Location: Halfway between SmithersSmithersSmithers may refer to:* Smithers , a surname* Smithers, British Columbia, a town in Canada** Smithers Airport, a public airport** Smithers Secondary School** Smithers railway station* Smithers, West Virginia, a city in the United States...
and New Hazelton, 31 km from each town. Straddles the Trans-Canada Yellowhead 16 Highway, along the Bulkley RiverBulkley RiverThe Bulkley River in British Columbia is a major tributary of the Skeena River. The Bulkley is 257 km long with a drainage basin covering 12,400 km²....
Valley. The river plunges through a narrow gorge, tumbling down a series of rushing waterfalls, and salmon are plentiful.
Directions
West of Moricetown is New Hazelton, British ColumbiaNew Hazelton, British Columbia
New Hazelton is a community on Highway 16 in northwest British Columbia, Canada. It is situated east of Terrace and west of Smithers and in 2006 had a population of 627 people...
(33), Kitwanga, British Columbia
Kitwanga, British Columbia
Kitwanga or Gitwangax is located where the Kitwanga River runs into the Skeena River in British Columbia. A long-standing village before Contact, the village is within Gitwangak Indian Reserve No...
(81), Terrace, British Columbia
Terrace, British Columbia
Terrace is a city on the Skeena River in British Columbia, Canada. The Kitselas people, a tribe of the Tsimshian Nation, have lived in the Terrace area for thousands of years. The community population fell between 2001 and 2006 from 12,109 with a regional population of 19,980 to 11,320 and...
(172), Kitimat, British Columbia
Kitimat, British Columbia
Kitimat is a coastal city in northwestern British Columbia, in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine. The Kitimat Valley, which includes the adjacent community of Terrace, is the most populous urban district in Northwest British Columbia...
(230), and Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
(316). East of Moricetown is Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako....
(31), Telkwa, British Columbia
Telkwa, British Columbia
Telkwa is a village located along British Columbia Highway 16, nearly 15 km southeast of the town of Smithers and 350 km west of the city of Prince George, in northwest British Columbia, Canada....
(48), Houston, British Columbia
Houston, British Columbia
Houston is a forestry, mining and tourism town in the Bulkley Valley of the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its urban population is approximately 3600 people, with approximately 2000 in the surrounding rural area. It is known as the "Steelhead Capital" and it has the world's largest...
(97), Topley, British Columbia (127), and Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
(401).
Culture
The village celebrates the traditional feast system, made up of five clans. However, fewer than 15% speak the Wet'suwet'en languageBabine-Witsuwit'en
-External links:****** Note, however, that the Carrier-speaking region is marked incorrectly on this map and that Babine-Witsuwit'en is not indicated. The area around Babine Lake and Takla Lake, included in the Dakelh region on the map, is actually Babine speaking...
and less than 5% understand the language, but do not speak it. The Band is known as the Moricetown Band, and it is currently participating in the British Columbia Treaty Process
British Columbia Treaty Process
The British Columbia Treaty Process is a land claims negotiation process started in 1993 to resolve outstanding issues - including claims to un-extinguished aboriginal rights - with British Columbia's First Nations....
.
Community resources
The Moricetown Multiplex, is a grand design, where the Band office, the community gym/hall and school are all inclusive in one building. There is an office available for the RCMP to use when they come into the community. The Office of the Hereditary Chiefs operates the Wet’suwet’en Unlocking Aboriginal Justice (W.U.A.J) program in conjunction with the SmithersSmithers, British Columbia
Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako....
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
department. The WUAJ Program has been in place since 1995, offering an Alternative Justice Program for first-time, non-violent First Nations offenders. The WUAJ office is presently in the chief's office in Smithers, B.C.
A Wet'suwet'en Language Authority created by fluent speakers and creating innovative ways to engage with NON FLUENT speakers and starting Early learning in the schools and homes.
http://www.firstvoices.ca
Industry
- Kyahwood Forest Products JV is a 58000 sq ft (5,388.4 m²). value-added wood and lumber plant. It is a joint venture including the Band as 51% shareholder, and Northwood Incorporated holding the remaining 49%. The plant employs 75 local residents and can produce up to 26 million bfm lumber when operating at peak capacity.
- Kyah Industries Ltd. is a spin-off business which has the first opportunity to accept harvest rights from the band’s timber award. Some 75,500 cubic metres is harvested annually. This logging company employs 12 people and owns equipment.
- Moricetown campground
- Fishing
- Seasonal craft store
Other Wet'suwet'en communities
Other Wet'suwet'enWet'suwet'en
Wet'suwet'en are a First Nations people who live on the Bulkley River and around Broman Lake and Francois Lake in the northwestern Central Interior of British Columbia...
communities include the Burns Lake Indian Band, Wet'suwet'en First Nation
Wet'suwet'en First Nation
The Wet'suwet'en First Nation is a First Nations band located outside of Burns Lake in the central interior of British Columbia. It was formerly known as the Broman Lake Indian Band and is still usually referred to as Broman Lake although this is no longer its official name...
(formerly known as Broman Lake Band), and Hagwilget Village.