Travellers & Entrepreneurs
A Spirit of Enterprise
The Ulkatcho people have always been entrepreneurial by nature. Long before European contact, they were skilled traders who moved obsidian and other goods across vast networks connecting interior and coastal peoples. This spirit of enterprise and adaptability continues today.
The Ulkatcho people's location at the crossroads of interior and coastal trade routes made them natural intermediaries, and their knowledge of mountain passes and river systems was unmatched in the region.
The Obsidian Trade
The Anahim Peak obsidian source, located within Ulkatcho traditional territory, was one of the most significant sources of toolmaking material in British Columbia. Obsidian from this source has been found at archaeological sites hundreds of kilometres away, evidence of extensive trade networks that predated European contact by thousands of years.
The Ulkatcho people controlled access to this valuable resource and traded it for coastal goods including eulachon oil, shells, and dried seafood. These trade relationships were maintained through kinship ties, ceremonial exchanges, and the bahlats (feast) system.
Grease Trails and Mountain Passes
The famous "grease trails" — named for the eulachon oil traded along them — connected the Ulkatcho territory to the coast. These trails, some of which are now recognized as heritage routes, were highways of commerce and cultural exchange.
Alexander Mackenzie followed one of these trails on his famous journey to the Pacific in 1793, guided by Indigenous people who had been travelling these routes for millennia. The Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail (now the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail) passes through Ulkatcho territory.
Modern Economic Development
Today, the Ulkatcho First Nation continues its tradition of entrepreneurship through the Ulkatcho Group of Companies and partnerships with resource industries. The Nation has signed five Alliance Agreements with industry partners, creating employment and economic opportunities for members while ensuring environmental protections.
Key economic initiatives include forestry operations, clean energy projects, and partnerships with mining companies including Artemis Gold's Blackwater Mine project. These initiatives are guided by the principle that economic development must serve the community and protect the land.
Clean Energy
Ulkatcho First Nation has invested in clean energy projects that benefit the community and protect the environment for future generations. These projects align with the Nation's commitment to environmental stewardship and its vision of sustainable economic development.
Clean energy represents a natural extension of the Ulkatcho people's relationship with the land — harnessing its power while protecting it for future generations.
Alliance Agreements
The Nation has negotiated five Alliance Agreements with industry partners operating within or near its traditional territory. These agreements ensure that the Ulkatcho First Nation benefits from resource development through employment, training, revenue sharing, and environmental monitoring.
Each agreement includes provisions for community consultation, environmental protection, and the recognition of Ulkatcho rights and title. The agreements represent a modern expression of the Ulkatcho people's long tradition of negotiation and trade.