Kispiox is a

Gitxsan Gitxsan (also spelled Gitksan and Kitksan) are an Indigenous people in Canada whose home territory comprises most of the area known as the Skeena Country in English (: means "people of" and : means "the River of Mist"). Gitksan territory enco ...

(often known also as Gitksan, due to eastern and western dialects) village of approximately 550 in the Kispiox Valley, at the confluence of the Kispiox and

Skeena River The Skeena River is the second-longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada (after the Fraser River). Since ancient times, the Skeena has been an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan—whose na ...

s in

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

. Located north of Hazelton, the community is situated within the Kispiox

Indian reserve In Canada, an Indian reserve () or First Nations reserve () is defined by the '' Indian Act'' as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." ...

BC Names entry "Kispiox 1 (Indian Reserve)"
/ref> and is managed by the Kispiox

Band Council In Canada, an Indian band (), First Nation band () or simply band, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subject to the ''Indian Act'' (i.e. status Indians or First Nations). Bands are typically small groups of people: the largest in ...

. Kispiox is perhaps most known to outsiders for its totem poles, some of which were the subject of

Emily Carr Emily Carr (December 13, 1871 – March 2, 1945) was a Canadian artist who was inspired by the monumental art and villages of the First Nations and the landscapes of British Columbia. She also was a vivid writer and chronicler of life in her sur ...

paintings in the early 20th century. The totem poles of Kispiox were featured as part of an episode of the 1975

David Attenborough Sir David Frederick Attenborough (; born 8 May 1926) is an English broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and writer. He is best known for writing and presenting, in conjunction with the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the nine nature d ...

documentary series '' The Tribal Eye''. The episode, "Crooked Beak of Heaven", focused on traditional customs and art of the Gitxsan and neighbouring tribes. Additionally, the Kispiox River has been host to two world-record steelhead catches: a 33-pounder and a 36-pounder. Kispiox has remained a favourite tourist attraction for its historical village, traditional artifacts and fishing. The original and traditional name of Kispiox Village is "Anspay'axw", loosely translated from the Gitxsan language; this means "The Hiding Place".

Notable people from Kispiox

Alvin Weget Elder, Hereditary Chief Gitluudahlxw * Walter Harris, O.C., Artist and Gitxsan Hereditary Chief * Delgamuukw Earl Muldoe, Gitxsan Hereditary Chief

References

External links

Gitxsan Chiefs OfficeKispiox Band Reserves
Gitxsan Skeena Country Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia {{BritishColumbiaCoast-geo-stub