The Sacred Headwaters

A visual feast and a plea to save an extraordinary region in North America for future generations, now in softcover.

In this stunning collection of photos, viewers are transported to the spectacular valley known to the First Nations as the Sacred Headwaters. Here, three of Canada’s most important salmon rivers—the Stikine, the Skeena, and the Nass—are born in close proximity. Now, against the wishes of all First Nations, the British Columbia government has opened the Sacred Headwaters to industrial development.

The compelling text by Wade Davis, which describes the region’s beauty, the threats to it, and the response of native groups and other inhabitants, is complemented by the voices of the Tahltan elders. The inescapable message is that no amount of methane gas can compensate for the sacrifice of a place that could be the Sacred Headwaters of all peoples of the world.

Wade Davis is Professor of Anthropology and the BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia. He served as Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society and is currently a member of the NGS Explorers Council. The author of 17 books, he has lived and worked in the Stikine as a park ranger and guide.

Dr. David Suzuki is an internationally renowned geneticist and environmentalist and a cofounder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Dr. Suzuki is Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and holds 27 honorary degrees from universities around the world. He is the author of more than 50 books, is a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, and, in 2007, was named one of Time Magazine's Heroes of the Environment.

“No one can question that this is First Nations land. This is sacred land. If mountains are broken down and lakes turned into tailing ponds, the risks that this could lead to a broad ecological catastrophe are obvious. If the First Nations whose land this is do not wish it tampered with, there is nothing more to be said.” -John Saul

“The Sacred Headwaters is the Sistine Chapel of Canadian nature: astoundingly beautiful, awe inspiring, to be revered and never defiled. This book is its hymnal.” -Thomas Lovejoy

“The stunning images and our struggle come together in this powerful call to action. We are all one. We must all answer.” -Sean Atleo

"The Sacred Headwaters is not only an inspiring and provocative read but also a call to action to educate ourselves about what is happening in this incredibly valuable wilderness area of northern British Columbia." -Paul Gilbert