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 The
Gitxsan traditional territories occupy
an area of 33,000 square kilometres (about five times the size of
P.E.I) in northwest British Columbia. It is a land of rugged, glacier-capped
mountains, lush forests and swift-flowing rivers heavily influenced
by the north Pacific Ocean climate. The Babine, Bulkley, Kispiox
and Skeena Rivers are all found in Gitxsan
territory and are home to abundant salmon and steelhead runs. Spruce,
subalpine fir, hemlock, cedar and pine compose extensive forests
on the territory.
Much of the forest floor is moss-covered, providing fertile growing
areas for mushrooms. Many of these are edible and one type in particular
– the pine mushroom – is picked for export to Japan.
Open areas in the forested land provide prime growing locations
for wild berries. In the past, Gitxsan
actively burned areas to enhance and manage wild berry habitat.
The landscape also produced many types of medicinal plants which
are harvested by the Gitxsan.
 The
rich ecosystem supports a wide variety of mammals and birds. Small
mammals, such as marten, are abundant and are trapped for their
fur. Deer, moose and mountain goat are often used as a source of
food. The land is also home to healthy populations of black and
grizzly bears. The mountain-building geologic processes that have
occurred over the years have resulted in the formation of mineral
deposits with gold, silver and copper in abundance. There are also
natural gas and oil reserves, especially in the Bowser Basin in
the northern Gitxsan territories. The
traditional territory hosts modern adaptations to the natural landscape
– two major highways and a national rail line cross through
it.
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