The History
Our Lodge is located in the small village of Telkwa B.C. It is commonly accepted that the name Telkwa is a native term that means “Meeting of the Waters”. This is because the village is located at the confluence of the Telkwa and Bulkley Rivers. The town’s evolution was driven by the gold rush at the turn of the century, and then the arrival of the Grand Trunk Pacific railway. As with other Canadian locales, the train is an iconic symbol along the banks of the Bulkley River. Our nations history calls out with the train every time it chugs through town.
The original inhabitants in the area were the First Nations group Wet’suwet’en . These people were linguistically and culturally linked to the Athapaskan Nation. By 1800 this group was based out of Moricetown. It was the rich resources of fish, wildlife and berries that made this spot so appealing. Moricetown which was then called “Kyah Wiget” was the perfect place to catch the numerous salmon runs that pushed through the Bulkley River. Politically they subdivided into separate clans, which controlled fishing, hunting and berry picking grounds. These grounds were clearly defined, and no one would harvest on another clans grounds.
The first settlers arrived here from Prince Rupert in about 1860 fueled by the fur trade. In an act of sheer perseverance they pushed up the Skeena in steamboats often having to winch through treacherous waters. Eventually they made there way into the Bulkley valley. When news of the Pacific Railway spread all throughout northern B.C. the settlers prepared for the opportunities that would follow. This is when many business’ moved into the town of Telkwa to be closer to the projected railway site and all the resources it would provide.
There are still many heritage buildings left in Telkwa from this era. For example the original pioneer church built in 1910, or the Telkwa schoolhouse built in 1920. Our lodge is also a heritage building in the town of Telkwa. It was the historical Creamery, originally built by Alfred Miller in 1939. It was operating in conjunction with the main Prince George Creamery. At its peak it was the hub for 235 shippers of cream all over Northern B.C. The bulk of the cream was received in the summer months, during which time a surplus of 40,000 pounds of butter could be built up. It was called Bulkley Valley Brand butter. We still have some of the original artifacts here at the lodge.
Telkwa is a very culturally rich community. We are proud to operate here and to be a part of the historic legacy of the village. Although our facilities are completely modern we revel in our lodge's heritage and history. Our great respect for the land, the environment, and historical background will play a big role as we share the wonders of the Bulkley Valley with you.
