Gitzaxłaał facts for kids
The Gitxaała are an important group of people who are part of the larger Tsimshian nation. They are one of 14 tribes in British Columbia, Canada. The Gitxaała are also one of the "Nine Tribes" that live along the lower Skeena River. Many of them live in a place called Lax Kw'alaams, which is also known as Port Simpson.
The name Gitxaała means "people of (a type of shrub)." This name connects them to the plants and land around them.
Contents
Who are the Gitxaała?
The Gitxaała are a First Nations group with a rich history. They are one of the many Indigenous peoples who have lived in what is now British Columbia for thousands of years. Their culture is deeply connected to the land and water.
Their Traditional Lands
The traditional lands of the Gitxaała include the area around the Ecstall River. This river flows into the Skeena River. Their territory also includes the old town of Port Essington. They also have land on Dundas Island. Since 1834, many Gitxaała people have lived in Lax Kw'alaams. This was after the Hudson's Bay Company built a trading fort there.
Their Leaders and Family Groups
The Gitxaała have a special way of choosing their leaders. Their main leader holds a hereditary name-title called Niisho'ot. "Hereditary" means the title is passed down through families.
How Leaders are Chosen
In 1938, a researcher named Viola Garfield studied the Gitxaała. She wrote that the Niisho'ot at that time was an older man. He had received his title from his mother's brother. This is part of their tradition called matrilineal succession. This means that leadership and family lines are traced through the mother's side.
Sometimes, families need to make special plans for succession. The Niisho'ot in 1938 had only a few family members in Lax Kw'alaams. To make sure the title would continue, he adopted his daughter's son. This made the grandson his "nephew" in their system. This way, the leadership could be passed on.
Family Clans
In 1935, another researcher named William Beynon recorded information about the Gitxaała. He noted that only a few Gitxaała people lived in Lax Kw'alaams at that time. All of them belonged to the Ganhada clan. A clan is a large group of families who share a common ancestor. The Ganhada are known as the Raven clan.
