Gispwudwada facts for kids

The Gispwudwada (also known as Gisbutwada) is the name for the Killerwhale "clan" or family group. This group is part of the Tsimshian nation, who live in British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska.

The Gispwudwada clan is very similar to the Gisgahaast clan of the Gitxsan nation and the Gisḵ'ahaast/Gisḵ'aast Tribe of the Nisg̱a'a people. The Nisg̱a'a also call this group the Killerwhale Tribe. However, the Gitxsan use the term Fireweed clan, because Gisgahaast means "people of the fireweed".

The exact meaning of the name Gispwudwada is not known.

Main Symbols of the Gispwudwada

The main symbols, or crests, of the Gispwudwada clan are the Killerwhale (also called orca), which is neexł in the Tsimshian language, and the Grizzly Bear (midiik'). These symbols are very important to their identity.

Two Main Gispwudwada Groups

Tsimshian families who belong to the Gispwudwada clan are usually part of one of two main groups: the Git'mlaxam or the Gitnagwinaks.

The Git'mlaxam Group

The Git'mlaxam group believes their history began in a legendary place called Temlaxam, or "Prairie Town." This town was located on the Skeena River, in what is now Gitxsan territory. The Git'mlaxam group can be divided into smaller family units.

One important Git'mlaxam family among the Tsimshian is the royal House of Ts'ibasaa, which belongs to the Gitkxaała (Kitkatla) tribe.

The Gitnagwinaks Group

The Gitnagwinaks group's stories tell of their travels southward. They settled near the Kitasoo Tsimshian people, close to Klemtu, British Columbia.

A Tsimshian expert named William Beynon wrote down some information about the Kitasoo Gispwudwada families. He noted that some families, like those led by Wuts'iint, Dzagmsagisk, and T'amks, had disagreements over who owned certain crests. This led some of them to move to the Kitkatla, Gitwilgyoots, and Gitlaan tribes of the Tsimshian.

Here are some of the crests listed for the Gitnagwinaks:

• Grizzly Bear of the Sea (midiigm ts'm 'aks)
• Double-Finned Killerwhale (wüsngoopskinm née'x 'neexł)
• Killerwhale with Fins All Around (txatkunee'xs)
• Ligidadools, who was the wife of a powerful chief of the Nagwinaks

Nisg̱a'a Gisḵ'ahaast: People Among the Fireweed

The Nisg̱a'a people also have groups related to the Gispwudwada, called Gisḵ'ahaast. Here are some of their important family houses:

• House of Ẁii Seeks - Ivan Mercer
  • The name Ts'iibaasaa, which is important in this house, is used by many people along the coast of British Columbia.
  • This name is now held by Steven Bright and comes from the Nass River family of W'ii Seeks.
• House of W̓isin Xbiĺtkw - Matthew Moore (previously Andrew Mercer)
  • The respected leader Ẁii Lisims (Frank Calder) was from this house. He was a very important politician.
• House of Daax̱an - (previously Perry Azak)
• House of Ni'isýuus - Willard Martin
• House of W̓ii Lax̱ha - Peter Stevens (previously James Stevens, Sim’oogit Ḵ’amksiiwaa)

The most common crests for the Gisḵ'ahaast along the Nass River are:

• Hlguwilksihlgum N̓eekhl (Prince Killer Whale)
• Midiigim Tsa’W̓ii Aks (Grizzly Bear of The Big Water) – this crest is only used by the royal T’imlaxaam Houses.
• k'utk'unukws (Owl)
• Psday̓ (Grouse)
• Haḵ (Goose)
• Hloks (Sun)
• Hloksim Axkw (Moon)
• Bil̓ist (Star)
• Max̱maḵ’ay (Rainbow)

The Nisg̱a'a people no longer rank their chiefs as "head chief" of a whole tribe.