Prince Rupert, British Columbia & Grenville Channel
We woke up in Canada this morning, but the only thing we could see was white! There was a dense fog surrounding the National Geographic Sea Bird as we sailed into Prince Rupert, the northernmost port city in British Columbia. British and American ships first visited this wild area in search of sea otter pelts. The real wealth, however, was found to be the salmon, the foundation of the Tsimshian people. The Tsimshian lived in this area for generations and are part of the First Nations People.
As the fog lifted, we walked into town and visited the superb Museum of Northern British Columbia. As we strolled through the galleries exploring the unique ceremonial art, the rich diversity of this beautiful area became apparent. The North Coast nations are known for their monumental art and intricately carved totem poles that are found throughout the region. We walked to the nearby longhouse where we were treated to traditional dances handed down from generation to generation. Finally, we enjoyed a taste of traditional Tsimshian food that they serve at their feasts.
After lunch we headed south into the Grenville Channel, a very narrow part of the Inside Passage, a mere quarter mile wide. We assembled in the lounge where we learned about “software editing” from our team of photography experts.
Taking a timely stretch break, we spotted four killer whales off the starboard side of the ship by the second mate, Lucy. Keep the camera handy, there’s always another great shot to be had!
