- The Sacred Headwaters; The Fight to Save the Stikine, Skeena and Nass by Wade Davis, Greystone Books, 160 pages, $50.
There is a place in northwestern British Columbia where three mighty rivers originate. The Stikine, Skeena and Nass begin their journey in this land that the First Nations people call the Sacred Headwaters.
In this pristine wilderness flow these three important salmon rivers, but isn't over fishing that threatens their future but instead it's a proposal for a vast open pit mining operation and coal methane gas extraction operation.
Wade Davis has lived and worked in this region since 1978. He knows the place and the people. As explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, Davis has traveled the world and written numerous books on his experiences.
Now he uses that explorer's eye and writer's skill to tell the story of this magnificent land. Davis provides a look at the history of the First Nations people there, the first explorers to the region and weaves his own story of his connection to the area through the narrative.
Davis then describes the proposed industrial development that the B.C. government has opened the door for. He chronicles to protests that have taken place and the fight that continues to protect this vital ecosystem.
If the writing were not enough to convince you of the beauty of this region then the photographs certainly will. At its heart this is a wonderful collection of photographs, mostly taken by Carr Clifton, with other images provided by members of the International League of Conservation Photographers. The pictures show a place of untouched majesty and vast beauty, truly a place worth fighting for.
All profits from the sale of this book are going to the ongoing struggle to save the Sacred Headwaters.
