Kitselas facts for kids
The Kitselas (also known as Kitsalas or Gits'ilaasü) are one of 14 tribes that make up the Tsimshian nation. They live in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. Their original name, Gits'ilaasü, means "people of the canyon."
The Kitselas tribe lives near the Kitselas Canyon on the Skeena River. This area, close to the city of Terrace, was once a very important place for trading. The Kitselas are the most northern of the 14 Tsimshian tribes. Their land is next to the territory of the Gitxsan nation.
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Where the Kitselas Live
Today, most Kitselas people live on two Indian reserves. One is the Kulspai or Queensway reserve, also called "New Town." It is located just across the river from Terrace.
More recently, Kitselas people have started moving back to a traditional area. This place is called the Gitaus reserve (Git'aws), which means "people of the sand." It sits on a bluff overlooking the Kitselas Canyon. Gitaus is slowly becoming the main gathering place for Kitselas life.
From the 1870s until the 1960s, many Kitselas and Kitsumkalum Tsimshian people lived in a cannery town. This town was Port Essington, located farther down the Skeena River. It is now a ghost town.
How the Kitselas Govern Themselves
The Kitselas First Nation is the official band government for the Kitselas people. A band government helps manage the community's affairs.
Before 2005, the Tsimshian Tribal Council helped represent the Kitselas. This council worked on important agreements, called treaty negotiations, with the governments of British Columbia and Canada.
Kitselas History and Families
In 1924, important information about Kitselas traditions was recorded. This was done by William Beynon and Marius Barbeau, who was an anthropologist. They spoke with Kitselas leaders like Chief Walter Wright and Chief Samuel Wise. Chief Wise held the Kitselas Laxsgiik (Eagle-clan) name Gitxon.
The Kitselas people are organized into different family groups called house-groups. These groups are passed down through the mother's side of the family. Each house-group belongs to a specific clan.
Here are some of the Kitselas house-groups and their clans:
- House of Gagawtsgan – Laxsgiik (Eagle clan)
- House of Gitxon – Laxsgiik (Eagle clan)
- House of Iyuu's – Laxsgiik (Eagle clan)
- House of G'wam – Ganhada (Raven clan)
- House of Niis'hawas – Gispwudwada (Killerwhale clan)
- House of Niis'nagwalk – Laxsgiik (Eagle clan)
- House of Lax'Stell – LaxGibu (Wolf clan)
- House of Niis'taxo'ok – Gispwudwada (Killerwhale clan)
- House of Sats'an – Ganhada (Raven clan)
- House of Niis'Gitlope – Laxgiik (Eagle clan)
- House of Stee How – LaxGibu (Wolf clan)
More stories and details were also recorded from Chief Walter Wright (Niistaxo'ok) in the 1930s. These stories were later put together in a book called Men of Medeek.
See also
- Kitselas First Nation
- Kitselas Canyon
