K’tzim-a-deen is the “Valley at the head of the inlet” (Coast Tsimshian)
The Khutzeymateen Park [a.k.a. Khutzeymateen/K’tzim-a-deen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary] was established as a class A park in 1994 as the first area in Canada to be protected specifically for grizzly bears and their habitat. Class A parks are dedicated to the preservation of their natural environments for the inspiration, use and enjoyment of the public.
The park represents the first undisturbed estuary of its size to be protected along the north coast of B.C. The topography of this land and marine sanctuary is diverse, with rugged peaks towering to 2100 metres above a valley of wetlands, old growth temperate rainforests, and a large river estuary. An abundance of wildlife shares the area.
The Khutzeymateen Inlet Conservancy was established in 2008 to further enhance and ensure protection of key grizzly bear intertidal and foreshore habitats throughout the inlet. A conservancy is set aside for four reasons:
The Khutzeymateen group of protected areas continues to play a key role in the conservation of grizzly bears in North America by protecting a large part of the ecosystem in which they live. Grizzly bears depend on a healthy and fully functioning ecosystem which supports a variety of animals and fish.
Coast Tsimshian First Nations depend upon this area, as they have for thousands of years, as the source of their social, economic and cultural prosperity. Coast Tsimshian continue to conduct traditional activities in the K’tzim-a-deen and provide public education to explain their relationship to the area.
The area continues to offer incredible opportunities to view grizzly bears in their natural habitat. Human use of the area focuses on bear viewing, natural and cultural education, and traditional activities. The K’tzim-a-deen protected areas play an important role in British Columbia’s protected areas system. The protected areas are known internationally as Canada’s first grizzly bear sanctuary and are home to one of the highest concentrations of grizzly bears in Canada.
BC Parks, the Coast Tsimshian First Nations, and the Gitsi’is Tribe collaboratively manage the protected areas.
BC Parks, Lax Kw’alaams and Commercial Bear Viewing Guides have developed a collaborative Partnership that ensures the Khutzeymateen Protected Areas continue to be managed proactively and public access monitored conservatively to ensure the grizzly bears and their habitats are the first priority.
The bear viewing guides contribute a per person donation to the Khutzeymateen Park Enhancement Fund that collectively supports shared stewardship initiatives for Khutzeymateen Protected Areas including:
You can help support the protection and management of grizzly bears and this unique partnership by donating to the Khutzeymateen Park Enhancement Fund. If you would like to make a financial contribution, please contact BC Parks at: parkinfo@gov.bc.ca to discuss what kind of legacy you can leave for future generations.
Show your support and appreciation for Khutzeymateen Park by purchasing special edition posters, t-shirts, post cards, framed matted postcards, and iron-on patches!
Prices above include tax and shipping.
Check with Lorraine.Kerbrat@gov.bc.ca for availability of t-shirts prior to payment as they are limited in sizes and colours.
Proceeds from merchandise purchases assist Khutzeymateen Park. Thank you for your support!
There is an interpretive centre located at the guardian station. The centre is open to the public May through mid-September.
There is no viewing platform but water-based bear and wildlife viewing is excellent at river estuaries throughout the inlet.
This park is located 45 km northeast of Prince Rupert. The Khutzeymateen is accessible by marine transportation, only. The closest communities are Lax Kw’alaams, Kincolith, Port Edward, and Prince Rupert.
Cultural Heritage
The area is located within the traditional territories of the Coast Tsimshian (Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams First Nations) who have occupied the area since time immemorial. Specifically, the area is within the traditional territory of the Gitsi’is. The Gitsi’is (people of the seal trap) are one of nine Allied Tsimshian Tribes that make up the Coast Tsimshian First Nations. The Khutzeymateen protected areas are an intensive traditional use area within the territory of the Coast Tsimshian First Nations and have been used since time immemorial for cultural, social and economic purposes.
The Khutzeymateen protects these important traditional harvesting resources, wildlife and biological diversity, and sustains traditional use opportunities.
Conservation
The topography of this land and marine sanctuary is diverse, with rugged peaks towering to 2100 metres above a valley of wetlands, old growth temperate rainforests, and a large estuary.
The Khutzeymateen protected areas are closed to the harvest of grizzly bears. In addition, the lands adjacent to the protected areas are also closed to grizzly bear harvest as part of the Nass-Skeena Grizzly Bear No Hunting Area7.
Wildlife
The ultimate purpose of this area is to protect the north coast grizzly bear by the ecosystems in which they live. These protected areas include an entire intact coastal watershed (Khutzeymateen-Kateen Rivers) and much of the land surrounding a fjord that contains a very high density of grizzly bears, with over 50 individual bears seen in one season. Such abundance is due to the high quality grizzly bear habitat in the area consisting of forbs and sedges (Lyngby’s sedge) and pacific salmon spawning streams. Features associated with the bears include bear mark trails, rubbing trees, and wallows.
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.