Brim River Hot Springs and adjoining Owyacumish River Park protect 2,488 acres (1,007 ha) at the head of Owyacumish Bay on the north shore of Gardner Canal, about 96 miles (155 km) southwest of Prince Rupert and 40 miles (64 km) south-southwest of Kitimat, British Columbia. The name Brim River is attributed to Captain Daniel Pender of the Royal Navy, who surveyed the coast aboard HMS Plumper, HMS Hecate and the Hudson’s Bay Company Beaver between 1857 and 1870. Its significance was not recorded. The Haisla name ‘Uyagemis’, means ‘facing west.’ The area features an undeveloped hot spring and about 500 acres (202 ha) of old-growth temperate rainforest without road access or visitor facilities. Adjacent Owyacumish River Park covers 1,989 acres (805 ha). Both rivers wind through rugged, narrow valleys marked by steep, bare rock walls and cascading waterfalls from the snow-capped peaks of the Kitimat Ranges. These ranges form one of the main subdivisions of the Coast Range, flanked by the Pacific Ranges to the south and Boundary Range to the north. They lie between the Nass River and Portland Inlet to the north and the Bella Coola River and Burke Channel to the south, with the Hazelton Mountains to the east. Near-vertical cliffs reveal igneous rocks of the Quottoon pluton—a granodiorite intrusion emplaced 52 million years ago at depths of 6–9 miles (9–15 km). The pluton stretches about 112 miles (180 km) in length and averages 6 miles (10 km) in width. During the Eocene, magma accumulated in the lower crust, triggering the pluton’s emplacement. A brief uplift, followed by a Late Miocene rise, exposed the area and shaped its present relief. In central British Columbia, watersheds bear the marks of Pleistocene and Holocene glaciation—most notably the Wisconsinan Fraser event. The glaciers retreated between 13,000 and 9,000 years ago, paving the way for human settlement.

The Brim River and adjacent Owyacumish River lie in the traditional territory of the Haisla Blackfish clan. The Haisla First Nation consists of two historical bands—the Kitamaat of upper Douglas and Devastation Channels and the Kitlope of upper Princess Royal Channel and Gardner Canal. The Kitamaat call themselves Haisla, meaning ‘dwellers downriver,’ while the Kitlope refer to themselves as Henaaksiala, meaning ‘dying off slowly,’ in recognition of their traditional longevity. Originally, the tribe comprised eight clans, each named for an animal of historical significance: Eagle, Beaver, Raven, Crow, Killer Whale (Blackfish), Salmon, Wolf, and Frog. Each clan consisted of family units residing in communal dwellings housing up to 30 people. Clan membership is inherited maternally, with titles and privileges passing from uncle to nephew rather than from father to son. This system is believed to have been introduced by migrating Tsimshian women who spread their traditions among northern tribes. Each clan maintains its own creation story, complementing the tribe’s overarching origin myth. European diseases devastated the clans. After the 1918 influenza pandemic, the Wolf and Frog clans disappeared, leaving six; the Crow clan is now nearly extinct, having merged with the Raven clan. These losses reshaped the social fabric of the Haisla, compelling survivors to consolidate their community for economic and social survival. The surviving clans united in a common winter village at Kitamaat, cooperating economically and socially—for example, in organizing and accumulating wealth for the potlatch—until the entire nation eventually settled together, though clan distinctions persist. Missionaries and government agents banned feasts and celebrations, fearing that traditional customs would hinder indigenous assimilation into European Canadian society. Communal houses were torn down and children forbidden to speak Haisla. In 1876 the Indian Act banned the potlatch; it was reinstated in 1951. Despite these oppressive measures, traditional practices persisted in secret and later reemerged openly as community pride was rekindled. Over time, a hybrid culture has emerged that blends traditional heritage with Euro-Canadian influences.

Until the 1960s, parks in British Columbia showcased the province’s natural splendor. By then, however, a movement emerged to redefine them as sanctuaries for biodiversity. In the 1970s and 1980s, rising conservation concerns and land-use conflicts—especially over forestry—reshaped public opinion and policy. Globally, the World Commission on Environment and Development urged nations to triple protected areas to safeguard biodiversity. At the 1992 Earth Summit, Canada committed to protecting 12% of its land base. In response, British Columbia launched its Protected Areas Strategy in 1993, aiming to double protected lands from 6% to 12% by 2000 through an ecological representation framework. This shift not only redefined park management but also aligned provincial practices with international conservation standards. New areas were identified through community-based land-use planning that brought together industry, environmental groups, First Nations, local communities, and government. Covering more than 70% of the province, the plan added 12.3 million acres (5 million ha) of protection. British Columbia thus became the first province to meet the 12% target—a milestone that reshaped conservation efforts. Later, the Owyacumish River was designated a Provincial Park in 2004 and Brim River Hot Springs a Protected Area in 2005. These followed recommendations from the Kalum Land and Resource Management Plan, developed jointly by the Haisla First Nation and the provincial government. The plan established directives for resource management and protection zones critical to conservation. Protected areas were chosen on two criteria: ecosystem representation and special features. Ecosystem representation preserves examples of the province’s major terrestrial, marine, and freshwater systems, while special features protection safeguards rare species, critical habitats, and unique natural, cultural, and recreational assets. Together, they ensure the park network conserves representative ecosystems and distinctive heritage, supporting sustainable recreation and local economies. This integrated approach not only bolstered conservation efforts but also fostered sustainable economic development and community well-being across the province. Read more here and here. Explore more of Brim River and Gardner Canal here: