Stein Valley, British Columbia
SIGNIFICANCE The valley is where members of the Nlaka’pamux Nation go to teach traditions and gain spiritual knowledge and is a source of sustenance. It’s considered an “ecological whole” because the area goes from dry interior to wetter mountains and features diverse ecological zones including cedar groves, alpine tundra, glaciers and open pine forests. The importance of the valley has been conveyed in more than 100 documented oral narratives and Creation stories. SIZE The protected area encompasses 107,191 hectares. LOCATION Southwestern British Columbia, spanning the entire Stein River watershed
CURRENT OFFICIAL PROTECTION The Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park was established in 1995 and is co-managed by the Lytton First Nation and BC Parks. RARITY FACTOR Well-preserved pictographs can be found along cliffs and boulders on the ancient trail. They reveal sacred places where spiritual powers are gained through visions and rituals, including prophecies and puberty rituals. THE LOCAL’S TAKE Wendy Wickwire and Michael M’gonigle, co-founders in 1985 of the original campaign group, the Stein Wilderness Alliance, know the area well. “The Stein River Valley is unique as an intact watershed in British Columbia’s lower mainland — a mere three-hour j ourney from Vancouver,” Wickwire says. “It’s bounded on all sides by mountainous ridges and its forest, streams and main river all originate and exist within an undeveloped environment.” This undeveloped aspect allows for a diverse forest system, explains M’gonigle. “The Stein Valley is rich in wildlife from grizzly bears to diverse fisheries and a stunningly beautiful wild river. Walking beside it is a special experience in today’s world of fractured landscapes.”