Chapter 2
Anspayaxw - Kispiox Reserve
Jennifer Bulleid
Anspayaxw – Kispiox Reserve
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Anspayaxw is known locally as Kispiox Village and is situated within the Gitksan Territory fifteen kilometres on the Kispiox Valley Road north of Hazelton at the junction of the Kispiox and Skeena Rivers. The size of the community is 1650 acres.
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Anspayaxw, the traditional name of this community, translates to "Hiding Place". The community of Anspayaxw is one of six ancient Gitksan communities which exist today in the area. It is estimated to be about 3,000 years old, having existed, like several other villages, since the time the population was dispersed from the ancient city of Txemlax’amid by a disaster. Archaeological and oral history evidence indicates that the Gitksan occupied the valley of the K’san or Skeena River following the last ice age about 10,000 years ago. There are many Gitxsan ancient villages that no longer exist due to natural disaster and genocidal policies enacted to remove indigenous people from their homelands,Kispiox Band has a total membership of 1,670 members as of December 31, 2021 – 578 reside on-reserve and 1,092 members reside off-reserve. The total population, which includes their members, other band members, non-registered and non-native residents, is approximately 737 as of December 2021.
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Kispiox Band, the reserve government, is governed by an elected body consisting of nine Councillors and one Chief Councillor. The Kispiox Band Office staff consists of fifteen permanent full-time employees, two machine operators, casual labourers and seasonal silviculture crews.
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In the last ten years, this community has continually seen growth in population and services provided to their membership. They are connected to the BC Hydro Power Grid.
Below summarizes Kispiox’s community infrastructure and the organization responsible for the utility costs.
BC Hydro electricity bills are often very high and difficult for some residents to pay. SWCC and our team have heard from residents and leadership that they often must choose between keeping the power on or buying groceries.
CURRENT ENERGY ISSUES
Many Band homes were poorly built upon initial build and were not suitable for the regional climate. Currently these homes need energy retrofits including new windows, doors, improved insulation value, new roofs, proper weatherstripping and proper venting.
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When the power grid came to the valley, energy was cheap, and the area became reliant on electric heat and power. There have been many benefits to the power from BC Hydro although it did bring new issues for the community’s well-being. There are frequent power outages known as “brownouts” and now some of the community’s most vulnerable, like Elders, are left with their electricity dependant utilities not working. This includes issues such as furnaces and lights not working in winter temperatures and darkness, and not having alternatives for cooking if electric stoves are not working. Most people in the area have electric wall, plug-in phones as opposed to jack plug-in only. When the power goes out their phone lines are disconnected, as well as Wi-Fi, leaving them unable to reach emergency services or any sort of assistance if needed.
The energy supply-chain issue is a result of this region’s power line right-of-way being located through a very densely treed corridor. As an area with frequent heavy windstorms and snowfall, the trees often fall onto the lines causing up to a week of no power (depending on the severity of the storm). 2021 to present has seen a higher frequency of brownouts than past years.
The Kispiox Band is committed to achieving economic self-sufficiency which includes energy self-sufficiency. This will be achieved through training, education, and creating opportunities for community members.
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A funding application has recently been completed and submitted to Indigenous Canada Services to explore alternative energy for the community. The funding request is for a Feasibility Study on Solar panels and Run of the River projects. The study could lead the community to independence and not be completely reliant on BC Hydro energy needs.
The Empowered Energy Solutions project is supporting the community’s renewable energy goals and creating the necessary capacity to assist in reaching those goals.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR UTILITY COST
