The Gardner Canal

Rounding the corner below the entrance to Crab River, one enters the Gardner Canal, a 105 kilometre long fjord The Gardner extends eastward 80 kilometres to the mouth of the Kemano River and then another 25 kilometres to the southeast, where the Kitlope River enters the Gardner. The entrance on the south side is Staniforth Point (Laisdis, LAYS-dees).

The Gardner Canal with Haisla names from Kasa (Crab River) to Kemano.

[Note that in referring to directions in the Gardner, the Kitlope is "up the Gardner" and Crab River is "down the Gardner". Thus, places to the east are "above" places which are to the west. And, locations are "below" other places that are to the east of them.]

Looking up the Gardner from the entrance, looking past T'lekexdai Island, on the left, toward the mouth of Paril River.

The North Side of the Lower Gardner Canal

Collins Bay

Looking down the Gardner with T'lekexdais Island in the middle left and Collins Bay at center.

Collins Bay is called Haxwalaid (hah-whah-LEHD) in Haisla. It is located on the north side of the Gardner, just around the corner from Crab River. The Wa'wais that includes Collins Bay and Barker Point (Dlixde'ma, dleek-duh-MAH) which is two kilometres to the east (above Collins Bay ) as well as the area between them are the shore area of the Haxwalaid wa'wais. It is a Beaver clan property and trapline #603T051. There is a trail that leads overland from the head of Collins bay to Crab Lake. The island in front of this wa'wais is called T'lekexdais (Tluh-kuhk-DEHS), which is the name for all islands in Haisla. It has a deer population and was traditionally a popular hunting location.

McAlister Bay

T'lem x aya (McAlister Bay).

Qayuxw (Kukwsta, the spring at Hotsprings Bay) a pleasant stop going or coming from the Kitlope.

McAlister Bay is called T'lem x aya (TLUHM-hay-yah). Running 13 km from Barker Point past Shearwater Point and Hotsprings Bay (Qayuxw, KAH-yook) to Europa Point (T'aiq'wat'a, TEH-kwah-tah), McAlister Bay is a long Eagle clan wa'wais. It has trails that lead up to the highlands behind, where goat hunting camps were maintained. The McAlister Bay trapline, 0603T050 is traditionally owned by the holder of the name Quinuxw.

T'aiq'wat'a (Europa Point), the eastern edge of the T'lem x aya wa'wais.

The South Side of the Lower Gardner Canal: Paril River to Kiltuish Inlet

Oxwilh

The Paril River watershed (oxwilh, OH-kweeth) is a long, rich wa'wais that has recently been logged. The lower courses of the Paril comprise a valley with a path that allows one to traverse across to the head of Bishop Bay. There are four Haisla wa'wais areas (and traplines) in a row on the south side of the lower Gardner : Paril River, Triumph Bay, the unnamed creek called Q'apuwax (kuh-poo-WUHK) and Kiltuish Inlet. These are all areas with interesting histories of Haisla use and occupancy, that are retained in the memories of living Haisla elders.

The mouth of the Paril River with the Highlands separating Oxwilh from Wasasa on the left, where clear-cutting is visible. On the far left side is the entrance (hidden) to Triumph Bay (Wasasa).

High mountains rise straight from the sea east of Triumph Bay (opposite McAlister Bay).

The watershed of the unnamed creek that is the watershed that comprises the Q'apuwax.

The entrance to Kiltuish Inlet, called in Haisla Kemano Gelcuis (ke-MAH-no GIL-tsoo-eez) to distinguish it from Giltoyees Inlet on the Douglas Channel.

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