iii.
The boardwalks constructed today allow for the movement over the bog of ATVs, bicycles, pedestrians and small scale construction equipment.You must think differently when considering the movement of anything over this terrain.The boardwalks hearken to the village established in this location years ago. In pre-contact time the boardwalks ran parallel to the clam beach with connections between the houses. Now the boardwalks loop and curve to suit the suburban housing plan. Even with the newer winding boardwalks, the houses inevitably focus on the open bay.
The village is located on a peat bog. The maritime mode- rated northern climate ensures that even in winter, the bog does not freeze to any significant depth for any significant period of time. The amazing thing about the peat is imagining the constant flow of water through the saturated ground. A footprint in a soft spot becomes a puddle, the water fill all depressions. Wherever construction has taken place the flowing underground becomes apparent. A temporary road not removed creates a swamp with skunk cabbage in its wake.The interruptions to the natural landscape are readily apparent as are building problems due to a lack of unders- tanding and respect for this watery terrain. The buildings and connecting paths in the form of board- walks are all on piers. This is are the most practical way to deal with this terrain. The river divides the village as it is now settled. It is a salmon river and the delta and adjacent foreshore beach was a source for shellfish. Major enginee - red changes such as the rock breakwater, the barge landing and power plant constructed beside the river mouth have changed the pre-contact linearity of the village and trans- formed it, destroying the reasons for the shape of the old village. The longhouse village has expanded from a linear pre-contact form to an almost suburban village. The long- houses are gone and have been replaced with smaller stick framed houses. The way of life, together with the associated forms, has changed superficially. The longhouse remains a strong symbol of the recent past and is often, if not always used, typologically, for community and recreation halls that serve for feasts, drumming, singing and dancing
iv.
This is a small village, only about 200 people currently. However, there is a lack of housing for people wishing to move back to the village. People move away, mainly just to Prince Rupert (a village of about 20,000 people) and some come back for various reasons. One of the problems is being resolved by an addition to the school. Currently the school handles children up to grade 10.When children reach grade 11 families must decide if they will remain in the village or move to Prince Rupert to be with the child entering grade 11.The move means pulling the younger children as well from the village school and moving them to Prince Rupert until they all have finished this cycle of their lives. The school is the heart of the community, the same as any small town. It is the focus of weekly activity.
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