Kitsumkalum

Kitsumkalum

Kitsumkalum is one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada, and is also the name of their Indian Reserve just west of the city of Terrace, British Columbia, where the Kitsumkalum River flows into the Skeena River. Traditional Kitsumkalum territory encompassed the Kitsumkalum River watershed, though Kitsumkalum also claims the adjacent Zimacord River watershed, a part of which is traditionally the territory of the Gitlaan Tsimshians.

The name "Kitsumkalum," originally "Gitsmgeelm," derives from the Tsimshian "git-" (people of) and "-geelm," referring to riffles formed by shallow water running over rocks in the Kitsumkalum River.

The following house-groups (extended matrilineal families) make up the Kitsumkalum tribe, according to McDonald (see bibliography):

*House of Ligiudziiws -- Ganhada (Raven clan) (currently headed by Laura Talbot)
*House of Łagaax & 'Wiidildal -- Gispwudwada (Killerwhale clan) (currently headed by Alex Bolton)
*House of Niisgankwadzeks -- Laxsgiik (Eagle clan)
*House of Niisgeel -- Laxsgiik (Eagle clan)
*House of Wudiwiye & Wüneeymhapiskw -- Laxgibuu (Wolf clan) (currently headed by family of Vera Henry)
*House of Xpilaxha -- Ganhada (Raven clan) (currently headed by Gerald Wesley)

Of these, the House of Nisgeel represents the first human inhabitants of the Kitsumkalum valley, under the leadership of Nisgeel, according to an oral history ("adawx") belonging to this house.

Traditionally, the main Kitsumkalum village was situated at Dałk Gyilakyaw or "Robin Town," at the Canyon of the Kitsumkalum River. This site has not been occupied since the 1930s. Another village, home of the Ganhada and Laxgibuu, was Gitxondakł, situated between the Canyon and Kalum Lake. Modern Kitsumkalum village, a third site, is right on Highway 16 where the Kitsumkalum River flows into the Skeena. The population of the community in 1983 was 74.

McDonald also lists the following house-groups from other Tsimshian tribes whose members are associated with the Kitsumkalum community:

*House of Gitxon/Nisgitloop -- Kitselas tribe
*House of Niiskiimas -- Giluts'aaw tribe of Lax Kw'alaams
*House of Niishaywaaxs -- Kitselas tribe
*House of Spooxs -- Gispaxlo'ots tribe of Lax Kw'alaams

From the 1870s until the 1960s, many Kitsumkalum and Kitselas Tsimshians lived at the cannery town of Port Essington, farther down the Skeena River (now a ghost town), at the confluence of the Ecstall and Skeena Rivers.

A significant event in the modern revival of traditional culture at Kitsumkalum was the "Su-Sit'aatk" double totem pole raising feast of 1987. The poles were carved by the Haida carver Freda Diesing, with the assistance of a team from Kitsumkalum, including Dorothy Horner, Myrtle Laidlaw, Sandra Wesley, Norman Horner, and Norman Guno.

Bibliography

*Inglis, Gordon B., "et al." (1990) "Tsimshians of British Columbia since 1900." In "Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 7: Northwest Coast," pp. 285-293. Washington: Smithsonian Institution.

*McDonald, James A. (1983) "An Historic Event in the Political Economy of the Tsimshian: Information on the Ownership of the Zimacord District." "B.C. Studies," no. 57, pp. 24-37.

*McDonald, James A. (2003) "People of the Robin: The Tsimshian of Kitsumkalum." CCI Press.

*Stewart, Hilary (1993) "Looking at Totem Poles." Vancouver, B.C.: Douglas & McIntyre.

External links

* [http://www.kitsumkalum.bc.ca Kitsumkalum Band]

* [http://mcdonald.unbc.ca/ James McDonald's Web page]

* [http://www.kitsumkalum.bc.ca/social.html Kitsumkalum Genealogy Project]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Kitsumkalum Provincial Park — is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada …   Wikipedia

  • Laxsgiik — The Laxsgiik (variously spelled) is the name for the Eagle clan (phratry) in the language of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska. It is considered analogous or identical to identically named groups among the… …   Wikipedia

  • Tsimshian — The Tsimshian (Sm algyax: Ts’msyan) IPA|/ sɪm.ʃi.æn/ are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River . [Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of… …   Wikipedia

  • Kitselas — This page is for the people. For the location see Kitselas, British Columbia.Kitselas, Kitsalas or Gits ilaasü are one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada. The original name Gits ilaasü means people of the canyon …   Wikipedia

  • Tsimshian people — The Tsimshian (English pronunciation: /ˈsɪmʃiən/; Sm algyax: Ts’msyan) are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River.[1] Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around… …   Wikipedia

  • Terrace, British Columbia — Infobox Settlement official name = City of Terrace other name = native name = nickname = settlement type = City motto = imagesize = 220px image caption = Welcome sign flag size = image seal size = image shield = shield size = city logo = citylogo …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der First Nations — Die Liste der First Nations beinhaltet alle vom Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development aufgeführten First Nations in Kanada. Zur Unterscheidung wurde seinerzeit ein Nummernsystem eingeführt, Nummern, die hier mit angegeben sind.… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • List of rivers of British Columbia — The following is a partial list of rivers in British Columbia, organized by watershed. Some large creeks are included either because of size or historical importance.( For an Alphabetical List of British Columbia rivers )East of the Continental… …   Wikipedia

  • Skeena River — Infobox River river name = Skeena River caption = Skeena River Watershed origin = Spatsizi Plateau (coord|57|09|06|N|128|41|29|W|scale:60000) mouth = Hecate Strait (Pacific Ocean) (coord|54|07|57|N|130|05|57|W|scale:60000) basin countries = CAN… …   Wikipedia

  • Kitsumkaylum 1, British Columbia — Kitsumkaylum is a First Nations reserve of the Kitsumkalum group of the Tsimshian people, located near the city of Terrace in the Skeena Country of northwestern British Columbia, Canada.ee also*Kitsumkalum, British Columbia …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”