No sooner had the nine Allied Tsimshian Tribes of Lax Kw鈥檃laams installed educational signage along Hwy 16 at six historically significant sites, than they were vandalized or stolen.

The signs containing information about the pre-contact history of the allied tribes and their territories, including Sm鈥檃lgyax words for significant places, plants and wildlife, were initially set up last month.

鈥淲hile this project has been a celebrated source of pride for Lax Kw鈥檃laams members at large, the project has also seen very serious theft and vandalism to the sites,鈥� a press release stated. 鈥淭hese acts of vandalism occurred immediately within hours following the initial installation of the signage on April 8th.鈥�

Since then, Lax Kw鈥檃laams staff, hereditary leadership, youth and members at large have conducted structural repairs to the signs and, on May 3, celebrated their reinforcement and re-installation at six locations along the Skeena River between Prince Rupert and Terrace.

A file (number 2024-2507) remains open with the Prince Rupert RCMP who are asking anyone with information on the crimes to come forward.

鈥淭hese signs are a unique addition to the existing information signage along the Skeena, as they share the adaawx (oral history) of the points of interest that are stewarded by the Allied Tsimshian Tribes of Lax Kw鈥檃laams,鈥� the press release said.

The re-installation was marked by events at each of the six sites involving ceremony, speeches and witnessing by tribal members.

The sites are: the Tyee View Point (Klaxmaxt, 鈥榳here to go across鈥�), Kwinitsa East (Gwinsts鈥檕ol, 鈥榦n place of beaver鈥�), Exchamsiks Boat Launch (Dzagayuup, 鈥榓cross territory鈥�), the Exstew River Boat Launch (Ksit鈥檜u鈥檛sk, 鈥榳aters black鈥�) and Terrace Entrance (Ts鈥檓gigyaani).

鈥淭he repairs and reinforcement to the signs are in line with Lax Kw鈥檃laams鈥� commitment to reinstate the signs, and the information they represent,鈥� the release said.

While the signage was only recently placed, the project has been in the works since 2017 and is the product of several years of planning, archival research and survey work. It is a joint initiative between the Lax Kw鈥檃laams Band Truth and Reconciliation department, Lax Kw鈥檃laams Fisheries, Lax Kw鈥檃laams Business Development LP and the Allied Tsimshian Tribes Association.

Joey Wesley, councillor and chair of the Rights and Title Portfolio said it is a great source of pride.

鈥淭he Skeena Signage Project means a lot to the membership of Lax Kw鈥檃laams, but also the community at large,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he signs make the tribal histories of the Allied Tsimshian Tribes of Lax Kw鈥檃laams accessible to the public, aims to educate readers about the territory, and share who we are as a people. We received good feedback on the visibility of the signs 鈥� from both Lax Kw鈥檃laams members, and members of neighbouring nations alike.鈥�

For even greater accessibility, the project has made digital versions of the signs available on the .