Conservation
Natural Study Area
History
The Hill has pockets of different vegetation and rock formations to study as you hike. The scenic views overlook the confluence, Kp̓iƛ̓l̓s, Waldie Island, Norns creek mouth, and the townsite of Castlegar. Historical photographs of the railway include The Hill in the background, and it is easily accessible from downtown. Numerous educational possibilities exist with the land being utilized to build outdoor skills and endorse conservation values.
Clean up!
Extensive work has been done to remediate
- The past custom of burying “garbage,”
- Dumping garbage on the side of the road,
- Wildlife dragging up piles,
- Throwing bottles from the viewpoints.
Don’t be a Disturbance, Not Even a Micro One
Please stay on the path and within the gathering space boundaries. Pressure from your boots can squash stems, crush leaves, and compact the soil structure around plant roots.
FireSmart & Hugelkultur
The buildup of dead timber and underbrush creates better conditions for fire growth and intensity. To “FireSmart” an area, means removing fuel that gives fire potential to move faster and burn hotter or climb into the crowns of trees and spread. (FireSmart Canada, 2025, FireSmart British Columbia, 2025). The Hill practices responsible community forest stewardship by re-utilizing fuels to mitigate wild fire risk.
We combine FireSmart landscaping with land based art. The Hill uses Hugelkultur, which translates to hill culture or hill mound 🙂 Check out our Hillnests! Piles of deadwood and brush filled with dirt that have been arranged and compacted into human sized, nest-like mounds to give back as natural fertilizer, decomposition paradise, art, and gardeners galore. Hugelkultur provides a means to reframe brush and deadfall from something to burn into something that gives back.
Natural Study Area
SHORT Ecosite write up, SPEAK ON (bryophytes, rhizoids, contribute to soil in otherwise barren landscapes, huckleberry other culturally sensitive flora/fauna, giant white pine, speak to heavy ungulate use, species at risk, bear aware, vegetation varies widely depending on elevation and exposure, fire-dominated ecosystem, fire suppression has made it increasingly prone to catastrophic wildfire and insect infestation)
- key species list and invasive species lists (buttons)
Explore Hill History, Culture, & Seek Connection to Place
The Hill acknowledges and respects the traditional territory of the Sinixt (Sn̓ʕaýckstx, Lakes Peoples). It overlooks Kp̓iƛ̓l̓s, documented burial sites, and the Sin⋅natch⋅eggs Nation on this map from 1821 puts this land nearby. We are in close proximity to multiple areas of cultural significance.
This ethnohistorical report conducted with the province of B.C contains information relevant to the area, and archeological evidence from Turnbull (1977), Archaeology and Ethnohistory in the Arrow Lakes, Southeastern British Columbia, demonstrates a plethora of pre-contact presence.
The meeting of past cultures undeniably caused pain and division, changed traditional ways of life, and continues to influence how people experience today.
- Doukhobor history in the area, The Hill overlooks Verigin’s Tomb and what used to be the Brilliant jam factory. Old pectin bottles used for thickening agents were found buried on The Hill close to the road. Link to the Doukhobor Discovery Center.
Connecting with local cultural groups, historical finds and arc significance, C.N rail blurb (ask about fruit orchards/Brilliant jam factory, recipes) and the museum.
