Kitsumkalum
Encyclopedia
Kitsumkalum is one of the 14 bands 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):
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:
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.
Tsimshian
The Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000...
nation of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada, and is also the name of their Indian Reserve just west of the city of Terrace, British Columbia
Terrace, British Columbia
Terrace is a city on the Skeena River in British Columbia, Canada. The Kitselas people, a tribe of the Tsimshian Nation, have lived in the Terrace area for thousands of years. The community population fell between 2001 and 2006 from 12,109 with a regional population of 19,980 to 11,320 and...
, where the Kitsumkalum River flows into the Skeena River
Skeena River
The Skeena River is the second longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada . The Skeena is an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan - whose names mean "inside the Skeena River" and "people of the Skeena River" respectively, and also during the...
. 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
Gitlaan
The Gitlaan are one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation in British Columbia, Canada, and one of the nine of those tribes making up the "Nine Tribes" of the lower Skeena River resident at Lax Kw'alaams , B.C...
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 -- GanhadaGanhadaThe Ganhada is the name for the Raven "clan" in the language of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska. It is considered analogous or identical to the Ganada Tribe of the Nisga'a nation in British Columbia and the Frog clan among B.C.'s Gitxsan nation...
(Raven clan) (currently headed by Laura Talbot) - House of Łagaax & 'Wiidildal -- GispwudwadaGispwudwadaThe Gispwudwada is the name for the Killerwhale "clan" in the language of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska. It is considered analogous or identical to the Gisgahaast clan in British Columbia's Gitksan nation and the Gisk'ahaast/Gisk'aast Tribe of the Nisga'a...
(Killerwhale clan) (currently headed by Alex Bolton) - House of Niisgankwadzeks -- LaxsgiikLaxsgiikThe Laxsgiik is the name for the Eagle "clan" in the language of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska...
(Eagle clan) - House of Niisgeel—Laxsgiik (Eagle clan headed by Richard Miller)
- House of Wudiwiye & Wüneeymhapiskw -- LaxgibuuLaxgibuuThe Laxgibuu is the name for the Wolf "clan" in the language of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska. It is considered analogous or identical to identically named clans among the neighboring Gitksan and Nisga'a nations.The name Laxgibuu derives from gibuu, which...
(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 -- KitselasKitselasKitselas, Kitsalas or Gits'ilaasü are one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, in northwestern Canada. The original name Gits'ilaasü means "people of the canyon." The tribe is situated at Kitselas, British Columbia, at the upper end of Kitselas Canyon, which is on the...
tribe (currently headed by Wilfred Bennett of Kitselas) - House of Niiskiimas -- Giluts'aawGiluts'aawThe Giluts'aaẅ are one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation in British Columbia, Canada, and one of the nine of those tribes making up the "Nine Tribes" of the lower Skeena River resident at Lax Kw'alaams , B.C...
tribe of Lax Kw'alaamsLax Kw'alaamsLax-Kw'alaams , usually called Port Simpson, is an Indigenous village community in British Columbia, Canada, not far from the city of Prince Rupert. It is the home of the "Nine Tribes" of the lower Skeena River, which are nine of the fourteen tribes of the Tsimshian nation... - House of Niishaywaaxs -- KitselasKitselasKitselas, Kitsalas or Gits'ilaasü are one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, in northwestern Canada. The original name Gits'ilaasü means "people of the canyon." The tribe is situated at Kitselas, British Columbia, at the upper end of Kitselas Canyon, which is on the...
tribe (matriline of Charlotee Guno and Stewart Bolton) - House of Spooxs -- Gispaxlo'otsGispaxlo'otsThe Gispaxlo'ots are one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation in British Columbia, Canada, and one of the nine of those tribes making up the "Nine Tribes" of the lower Skeena River resident at Lax Kw'alaams , B.C...
tribe of Lax Kw'alaams - House of Sats'aan—Ganhada (Raven clan)Kitselas House
From the 1870s until the 1960s, many Kitsumkalum and Kitselas
Kitselas
Kitselas, Kitsalas or Gits'ilaasü are one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, in northwestern Canada. The original name Gits'ilaasü means "people of the canyon." The tribe is situated at Kitselas, British Columbia, at the upper end of Kitselas Canyon, which is on the...
Tsimshians lived at the cannery town of Port Essington
Port Essington, British Columbia
Port Essington was a cannery town on the south bank of the Skeena River estuary in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, between Prince Rupert and Terrace, and at the confluence of the Skeena and Ecstall Rivers. It was founded in 1871 by Robert Cunningham and Thomas Hankin and was for a time...
, 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
Totem pole
Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America...
raising feast of 1987. The poles were carved by the Haida carver Freda Diesing
Freda Diesing
Freda Diesing was one of very few female carvers of Northwest Coast totem poles and a member of the Haida First Nation of British Columbia, Canada....
, with the assistance of a team from Kitsumkalum, including Dorothy Horner, Myrtle Laidlaw, Sandra Wesley, Norman Horner, and Norman Guno.