Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park

Spatsizi is derived from the Sekani phrase (Tahltan First Nation/Dene Language), During the early 18th to late 19th century, there were two known early explorations of Spatsizi conducted by Samuel Black and P. M. Monkton. Samuel Black, the chief trader for the Hudson Bay Company, crossed the Finlay-Stikine divide in 1824, and in 1935, the B.C. Government surveyor P. M. Monkton explored and analyzed the upper Stikine. After the late 19th century, individuals like prospectors, hunters, and trappers explored the area for resources, with the express purpose of the reserve is to protect wildlife habitat and preserve the alpine landscape. What was unique about the creation of this park at the time is the lack of mention of harvesting or exploiting in its policy statement. The park sits at a combined size of 6,783 km2 including the Gladys Lake Ecological Reserve, but a later revision of the area is estimated to be 698,659 hectares (excluding the reserve), making it the second largest provincial park in British Columbia. In 2001, the provincial park added more parkland following the Cassiar Iskut Stikine Land and Resource Management Plan (CIS LRMP), altering the Gladys Lake Ecological Reserve Boundary. ==Ecology==

The Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park is under the Stikine Country Protected Area. The protected area is composed of different provincial parks like Mount Edziza Provincial Park, Stikine River Provincial Park, Gladys Lake Ecological Reserve, Pitman River Protected Area, Chukachida Protected Area, and Tatlatui Provincial Park. The Stikine Country Protected Area System is composed of two major ecosections: the Southern Boreal Plateau and Stikine Plateau. The river flows downstream from the south of and into Spatsizi Headwaters Provincial Park. Biogeoclimatic zones and subzones of the protected area include five different types and they include: Alpine Tundra (AT), Spruce-Willow-Birch (SWB), Boreal White and Black Spruce (BWBSdk1), Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir (ESSFwv), and Sub-Boreal Spruce (SBS). Conservation The Stikine Country Protected Area has an important conservation role in maintaining two natural ecosystem functions: the environment's absoprtive capacity to natural disturbances and predator-prey systems. within Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park, contains twenty known subalpine ecological communities and thirteen known alpine ecological communities. White spruce (Picea glauca), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), and the American dwarf shrub (Betula glandulosa) are the primary woody vegetation found in lower subalpine areas. though in the modern day the scope of research in the area has expanded, most notably to include caribou and moose. == First Nations cultural heritage ==

The Stikine Country Protected Area contains four cultural heritage roles for Mount Edziza Provincial Park, Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park, Stikine River Provincial Park, and Tatlatui Provincial Park. The cultural heritage role is to protect sites and key Aboriginal landmarks like Cold Fish Lake, obsidian quarry sites, and parts of the Dominion Telegraph Trail and Tahltan Eagle. For the Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park, the cultural heritage role assigned to the area has protected village sites of the Caribou Hide and Metsantan First Nations. Also, historical and traditional trails, and various legend, archaeological, non-Aboriginal fur trade sites have been conserved. In Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park, the Tahltan First Nation has used the area in the past for many generations, holding cultural significance to them as the land contains a rich history because of how the traditional ceremonies and practices conducted are essential for identity. The Tahltan First Nation has extensively used the land, emphasizing inter-community trade with nearby Indigenous communities like the Tlingit, Kaska, and Sekani people and Aboriginal subsistence through hunting and fishing. Hunting has been conducted in groups, where a wide range of wildlife such as rodents (squirrels, marmots, and beavers), to larger game like mountain goats/sheep, caribou, moose, and bears are hunted during the summer and continuing all the way through winter. == Recreation ==

Recreation in the Spatsizi Plateau is a topic of significance in the remote wilderness of northern British Columbia, Canada. The Spatsizi Plateau, encompassing a vast expanse of pristine wilderness, is renowned for its outstanding recreational opportunities and natural beauty. The Spatsizi Plateau in northern British Columbia offers diverse recreational opportunities within its remote wilderness. Visitors can enjoy activities like hiking, wildlife viewing, canoeing, fishing, camping, photography, stargazing, and guided nature interpretation. The park's pristine environment and stunning landscapes provide a unique outdoor experience, and responsible tourism practices are encouraged to protect its natural beauty. ==See also==