Haisla people facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Haisla

Xa’islak’ala, X̄a’islakʼala, X̌àʼislakʼala, X̣aʼislak’ala, Xai:sla
A Haisla whistle
Total population
1,500
Regions with significant populations
British Columbia
Languages
English, Haisla
Religion
Native, Christianity,
Related ethnic groups
Heiltsuk, Wuikinuxv, Kwakiutl

The Haisla people are an Indigenous group from British Columbia, Canada. Their name, Haisla, means "dwellers downriver" or "those living at the rivermouth." They are made up of two main groups: the Kitamaat people and the Kitlope people.

The Kitamaat people call themselves Haisla. The Kitlope people call themselves Henaaksiala. This name means "dying off slowly," which refers to their long lives. The name "Kitamaat" was given by the Tsimshian people. In their language, "Kitamaat" means "people of the snow."

The Haisla people have lived in the North Coast region for at least 9,000 years. Today, many Haisla people live in Kitamaat Village. This village is home to about half of the 1,700 Haisla people. Others live in the Greater Vancouver area. The Haisla language is called X̄a’islak̓ala.

What is the Haisla Nation's Home?

The Haisla Nation's main community is Kitamaat Village. This village is an reserve. It is about a 20-minute drive south of the town of Kitimat. Kitamaat Village is located at the top of the Douglas Channel. This channel is a long, narrow arm of the sea, like a fjord. It is about 90 kilometers (56 miles) long. The Douglas Channel connects the village to the Pacific Ocean.

The town of Kitimat is home to an aluminum smelter owned by Alcan Incorporated. The name "Kitamaat" was given by early European explorers. They asked their Tsimshian guides for the name of the area. It means "people of the snows" or "place of the snows." For hundreds of years, the Haisla people have lived in many villages across their traditional lands.

The Haisla people are governed by the Haisla Nation. Their offices are in Kitamaat Village, British Columbia.

This canoe was made by Haisla members of the Kitimat Athlete club. It was given to the UBC Museum of Anthropology in 1948 and is on display there today.

Ellis Ross was an important elected Chief Councilor of the Haisla Nation. He was one of the first First Nations leaders in Canada to work with large energy companies. He served as a full-time councilor from 2003 to 2016. Crystal Smith is the current Acting Chief.

Understanding the Haisla Clan System

Historically, the Haisla people had six clans. Each clan was named after an animal important to the tribe. The sixth clan, the Crow, is now almost gone and has joined the Raven clan. Each clan had its own main chief, called a Xay’mas. These chiefs met to discuss issues affecting the whole tribe. They were very involved in their clan members' lives. Chiefs often arranged marriages to benefit the clan. This could help share wealth or build alliances between clans.

The Haisla people had a class system. It included noble people, common people, and enslaved people. Noble people had special rights. They could take part in secret ceremonies. They also had the power to direct commoners and enslaved people in work. Noble boys had their earlobes pierced. Noble girls had their lower lips pierced. Common people were free to live as they wished. However, they could not take part in tribal government. Enslaved people were usually war prisoners. They were expected to obey completely.

Clan membership is passed down through the mother's side of the family. Titles and things inherited went from an uncle to his nephew. This system is believed to have come from Tsimshian women who moved among the northern tribes. Each clan has its own unique creation story. These stories are part of the tribe's larger creation story.

• Eagle Clan (ai 'ǐksdukuyinihu)
  • Crests: eagle, sea otter, ermine, owl, shag, hawk, halibut. Sometimes called the Owl Clan.
  • Clan cry: hai hai (imitating an eagle's scream).
• Beaver Clan (gĭtsǎ'k [Tsimshian] kaulu'n [Haisla])
  • Crests: beaver, dorsal fin of a dogfish, fireweed, beaver's house, a human figure holding its knees. Sometimes called the Dogfish Clan.
  • Clan cry: t'am t'am (imitating a beaver hitting its tail on the water).
• Raven Clan (giga'k!eni)
  • Crests: raven, a seated human figure with faces carved on palms, ears, knees, and feet.
  • Clan cry: Gax gax (the sound of a raven croaking).
• Blackfish Clan (Killer Whale / Orca) (hå'låxaini)
  • Crests: blackfish, dorsal fin of a blackfish, grizzly bear, twilight (red evening sky), a human figure with another human figure at its chest. Sometimes called the Grizzly Bear Clan.
  • Clan cry: hŏc hŏc (imitating an orca's blowhole).

The Story of the G'psgolox Totem Pole

In 1872, a smallpox disease greatly reduced the Haisla population. Chief G’psgolox, leader of the Eagle Clan, lost his friends and family. He went into the forest for help. There, he met the spirits Tsooda and Zola. The spirits told him to go to a mountain at dawn. He would see his deceased people and learn how to heal the living. Chief G’psgolox followed their advice. He gained important knowledge about spirits and Haisla survival.

To thank the spirits, Chief G’psgolox ordered a nine-meter-tall totem pole. The bottom two figures honored the dead. The top figure represented the T’sooda spirit, wearing a hat. This pole, known as the G’psgolox Pole, told the story of Haisla survival. It comforted the Haisla when they returned to their summer grounds.

The pole stood until 1929. The Haisla returned to find it gone. In 1928, Olof Hanson, a Swedish vice-president in British Columbia, asked to get a pole. In 1929, he was allowed to cut one down. Olof chose the G’psgolox Pole. He cut it at the base while the Haisla were away. He then gave the pole to the Swedish National Museum of Ethnography. The museum stored it for many years before displaying it.

Years later, Haisla Nation members heard rumors about the pole in Sweden. They traveled there to investigate. When they confirmed it was the G’psgolox Pole, they asked for its return. In 1992, a museum member visited the Haisla village. The Haisla people explained that the pole was stolen. They had been searching for it since 1929. Now that it was found, it had to be returned.

The Haisla people offered to carve an identical replica pole in exchange for the original. The museum agreed. In 1994, the Swedish government allowed the museum to return the totem pole. The condition was that the replica had to be an exact copy. In 2000, the Haisla community finished two replicas. One went to Sweden. The other was placed where the original G’psgolox Pole once stood. The Haisla Nation also built a historical preservation center in Kitamaat Village. This center would house the pole when it returned. Finally, in 2006, after 77 years at the museum, the pole arrived in Kitamaat Village.

The Importance of Oolichan Fishing

Oolichan are a type of smelt fish. They are so oily that their oil can burn like a candle. This is why they are sometimes called "candlefish." For many West Coast Indigenous Nations, the oolichan was known as the "saviour fish." It provided fresh food after a long winter.

Oolichan grease was very valuable to the Haisla. It was an important item for trading with other tribes. To get the oil, oolichan were boiled in large cedar boxes. The grease would separate from the meat and rise to the top. This fat was then skimmed off and stored in containers. It could be traded or eaten throughout the year. Making oolichan oil was hard work. The whole tribe often helped.

Women were in charge of making the nets for fishing oolichans. Nets were made from stinging nettles. The fibers were spun into strong twine. Knitting these detailed nets usually took about three months. When finished, the nets were 50 feet long. They were 24 feet wide at the mouth and narrowed to 2 feet. Well-made oolichan nets could last for over 10 years.

Potlatch and Feasting Traditions

The potlatch ceremony became more common when Indigenous communities on the Canadian Pacific coast started producing many goods. The word "potlatch" comes from the Chinook jargon. This language was used for trading in villages along the Pacific coast. "Potlatch" means "to give."

As wealth increased, many individuals in Indigenous communities gained more. Some people felt that by giving away their wealth, they could gain a higher social status. A potlatch is a special ceremony and feast. It celebrates important events like births, marriages, funerals, or fixing family dishonor. Indigenous people along the Canadian and US Pacific coast have practiced these ceremonies for hundreds of years. They often last for several days.

Historically, the potlatch was very important for the Haisla people. It helped share goods throughout the tribe. Giving away material wealth at a potlatch was the best way to keep or improve social standing. These ceremonies are a key part of Indigenous culture. It is common for the host nation to get a loan to provide for their guests during the festivities.

Activities during these ceremonies include dancing, singing, storytelling, and feasting. The goal of these rituals is to bring Indigenous nations together. They help build stronger social and cultural connections. Hosts often give away most or all of their wealth. This boosts their social status and secures their place in the cultural hierarchy. A potlatch requires so many goods that clans often worked together to gather enough supplies to host one.

Haisla Dances and Their Meanings

Dances are usually performed during winter at large feasts and potlatches. The Haisla have a series of dances. They are ranked from lowest to highest importance. The lowest dances are usually performed by younger members and commoners. The higher dances are for noble people and chiefs. Dancers are recognized by "five vertical streaks on both sides of the face."

The three highest dances are secret. They are called hai'likula, meaning "magical" or "shamanistic." Commoners are not allowed to know the details of these dances. Jesters entertain the crowd while dancers prepare behind a screen. Jesters also dance in certain performances. The role of jester is passed down through the mother's family line.

Preparation for the higher dances is only for noblemen and noblewomen. They are the only ones allowed to see these preparations. Noblewomen could not dance in the highest dances. However, they helped with the preparations. These top three dances use whistles and rattles. The sound of the whistle is unique to the dance being performed. Members of the two highest dances are believed to have magical powers.

Here are some of the dances, starting with the lowest rank:

• Mitla

This dance is usually performed by younger noble people and commoners. Most adult noblemen would have moved on from this dance.

• Glo'ala'ha ("came down a second time")

This dance is also a common dance, like the Mitla.

• Ula'la

This is the highest of the common dances. You must be a potential noble to dance in it. Participants can watch preparations for the higher dances. Dancers are usually sons of noblemen. This helps prepare them for the higher dances.

• Nutlåm

The Haisla people believe this dance came from the Kitlope tribe. It is called the "dog-eater dance." Dancers wear dog skulls when they perform. The number of skulls shows how many dogs the person has killed and eaten. Historically, the Haisla believed eating dog meat or human flesh was poisonous. Those who could eat it and survive were seen as special.

• Nu'ntlsista (meaning dizzy or crazy)

This dance is also called the "fire dance." It is the second most important dance to the Haisla people. Dancers wear matted hair and act crazy. If anyone in the audience smiles, laughs, or speaks, the dancers will approach them. To show their power, dancers will walk on hot coals. You must be a nobleman to take part in this dance.

• Tanish

This is a Haihais word meaning "cannibal" or "man-eater." The right to dance in the Tanish is usually inherited. There are a few exceptions, like a dowry gift. Women are not allowed to dance. However, they help with preparations and act as assistants.

The Haisla Language

The Haisla language is spoken by the descendants of the Gitamaat and Kitlope groups. These groups are from the Kitimat area of British Columbia's northern coast. Haisla is a Northern Wakashan language. Several hundred people speak it.

Haisla is the northernmost Wakashan language. Its closest Wakashan neighbor is Oowekyala. Haisla is related to other Northern Wakashan languages. These include Wuikyala, Heiltsuk, and Kwak'wala. The Haisla language has two dialects. These are sometimes called sublanguages. They are Kitamaat and Kitlope (also known as X̣enaksialak’ala).

Haisla names are written using a phonemic alphabet. This alphabet helps tell the sounds of the language apart from other Indigenous languages. Several scientific alphabets have been used for writing Haisla. A system created by Emmon Bach is used to read Haisla writings.