Moricetown, British Columbia

Moricetown is a Wet'suwet'en village in Central British Columbia, Canada. The current village was built during early 1900s. Evidence of inhabitants date back to around 4,000 years ago. The original name of the village was 'Kyah Wiget. It was renamed for the pioneer missionary Father Adrien-Gabriel Morice.

Contents

Facts

Directions

West of Moricetown is New Hazelton, British Columbia (33), Kitwanga, British Columbia (81), Terrace, British Columbia (172), Kitimat, British Columbia (230), and Prince Rupert, British Columbia (316). East of Moricetown is Smithers, British Columbia (31), Telkwa, British Columbia (48), Houston, British Columbia (97), Topley, British Columbia (127), and Prince George, British Columbia (401).

Culture

The village celebrates the traditional feast system, made up of five clans. However, fewer than 15% speak the Wet'suwet'en language and less than 5% understand the language, but do not speak it. The Band is known as the Moricetown Band, and it is currently participating in the British Columbia Treaty Process.

Community resources

The Moricetown Multiplex, is a grand design, where the Band office, the community gym/hall and school are all inclusive in one building. There is an office available for the RCMP to use when they come into the community. The Office of the Hereditary Chiefs operates the Wet’suwet’en Unlocking Aboriginal Justice (W.U.A.J) program in conjunction with the Smithers Royal Canadian Mounted Police department. The WUAJ Program has been in place since 1995, offering an Alternative Justice Program for first-time, non-violent First Nations offenders. The WUAJ office is presently in the chief's office in Smithers, B.C. A Wet'suwet'en Language Authority created by fluent speakers and creating innovative ways to engage with NON FLUENT speakers and starting Early learning in the schools and homes. http://www.firstvoices.ca

Industry

Other Wet'suwet'en communities

Other Wet'suwet'en communities include the Burns Lake Indian Band, Wet'suwet'en First Nation (formerly known as Broman Lake Band), and Hagwilget Village.

External links