Gitlaan facts for kids

The Gitlan are one of 14 tribes that belong to the Tsimshian Nation. They live in British Columbia, Canada. They are also known as one of the 'nine tribes of the lower Skeena River.' The name Gitlan means "people of the Stern Canoe." Their traditional land includes the area around the Zimacord River, which flows into the Skeena River. A part of the riverbank there looked like the back of a canoe, which is how the tribe got its name. The Gitlan also had villages at Venn Pass and near the harbour, besides their main area on the Skeena River.

A New Home in Alaska

In 1887, some Gitlan people moved from Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla, B.C.. They moved with William Duncan, a missionary, to start a new community called "New" Metlakatla, Alaska. Sm'oygit Nis la ganoos (Simeon Gitlan), a chief, went with the missionary.

There were disagreements between Mr. Duncan and another church leader, Bishop Ridley. These disagreements caused problems in the village. Many people, including most of the mission village, decided to follow Mr. Duncan. He was given land called the Annette Islands in Alaska, where he founded Metlakatla, AK. However, some chiefs, including a Gitlan Sm'oygit (Chief), and their people chose to stay in the Metlakatla, B.C. village.

Gitlan Family Groups and Leaders

The Gitlan tribe has 17 main family groups, called House groups. Two of these are considered royal houses. One is the House of Xpe Hanaax from the Ganhada (Raven) clan. The other is the House of Gwiskyaan from the Laxiboo (Wolf) clan. These two families are connected through history and have provided leaders for the Gitlan chiefs over time.

A Nisga'a family from a related Laxgibuu (Wolf clan) House group also joined the Gitlan through marriage. This family included Albert Wellington, who became a chief of the Gitlan Laxiboo with the name Gwisk'aayn. He was chief until he passed away in 1913.

William Beynon, Chief and Expert

Albert Wellington's nephew, William Beynon, moved from Victoria, B.C., to Lax Kw'alaams. He came to lead Wellington's funeral and take on the title Gwisk'aayn. This made him the Laxiboo chieftain, following the Tsimshian rules where leadership passes through the mother's side of the family. Even though there was some worry because Beynon had become a Canadian citizen, he became chief. The government at the time sometimes tried to change these traditional ways of choosing leaders. Beynon was chief of the Laxiboo Gitlan until he passed away in 1958. He also became a very famous ethnologist, someone who studies cultures and peoples.

Gitlan People Today

In 1935, William Beynon wrote down that Gitlan people in Lax Kw'alaams included:

• 4 members of the Gispwudwada (Killerwhale clan)
• 8 members of the Ganhada (Raven clan)
• 9 members of the Laxgibuu (Wolf clan)

Each of these clans was represented by one House group in Lax Kw'alaams. Other Gitlan House groups were located in Metlakatla, BC, Metlakatla, AK, and other parts of Tsimshian territory.

Prominent Gitlan People

Here are some well-known people from the Gitlan tribe:

• William Beynon, a chief and ethnologist (someone who studies cultures).
• Odille Morison, a linguist (someone who studies languages) and collector of artifacts.
• Michael Epp, an artist who carves.
• Bilham 'neex Loa Ryan, a Gitlan from the House of Xpe Hanaax, Ganhada clan. She is an artist and traditional cedar weaver.
• Sm'hayetsk Teresa Ryan, PhD., a Gitlan from the House of Xpe Hanaax, Ganhada clan. She is a scientist, author, artist, and traditional cedar weaver.
• Rev. William Soloman White, the first reverend to speak Sm'algyax (the Tsimshian language). He was from the House of Gwiskyaan.