Gitzaxłaał facts for kids

The Gitzaxłaał are one of the 14 important tribes of the Tsimshian nation. They live in British Columbia, Canada. They are also one of the nine tribes known as the "Nine Tribes" who lived along the lower Skeena River at Lax Kw'alaams, also called Port Simpson.

Exploring the Gitzaxłaał Nation

Understanding the Gitzaxłaał Name

The name Gitzaxłaał has a special meaning. It means "people of a certain type of shrub." This shrub grows in their traditional lands. The Gitzaxłaał are a key part of the larger Tsimshian nation.

Gitzaxłaał Traditional Territory

The Gitzaxłaał people have a rich history connected to their land. Their traditional territory includes the area around the Ecstall River. This river flows into the Skeena River. This land also included the old town of Port Essington. They also owned parts of Dundas Island.

Moving to Lax Kw'alaams

Since 1834, the Gitzaxłaał have been based in Lax Kw'alaams. This move happened when the Hudson's Bay Company built a trading fort there. This fort became an important center for trade and community life.

Gitzaxłaał Leadership: The Niisho'ot Title

The Gitzaxłaał tribe has a special way of choosing its leaders. The main leader holds a hereditary name-title called Niisho'ot. This means the title is passed down through the family.

How Leadership Was Passed Down

In 1938, an anthropologist named Viola Garfield studied the Gitzaxłaał. She wrote about the Niisho'ot leader at that time. He was an older man who had received the title from his mother's brother. This way of passing down leadership, through the mother's family line, is called matrilineal succession. To ensure the leadership continued, he chose his daughter's son to take on the role, which helped keep the family's leadership strong.

Gitzaxłaał Community in the Past

In 1935, another researcher, William Beynon, recorded information about the Gitzaxłaał. He noted that the Gitzaxłaał people living in Lax Kw'alaams were members of the Ganhada clan. The Ganhada is also known as the Raven clan.