Kitselas Canyon, also Kitsalas Canyon is a stretch of the

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 n ...

in northwestern

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, between the community of

Usk Usk ( cy, Brynbuga) is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, northeast of Newport. It is located on the River Usk, which is spanned by an arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. Usk Castle, above the town, overlooks th ...

and the

Tsimshian The Tsimshian (; tsi, Ts’msyan or Tsm'syen) are an Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Their communities are mostly in coastal British Columbia in Terrace, British Columbia, Terr ...

community of

Kitselas {{about, the people, the location, Kitselas, British Columbia, their band government, Kitselas First Nation Kitselas, Kitsalas or Gits'ilaasü are one of the 14 tribes of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, in northwestern Canada. The origi ...

. It was a major obstacle to steamboat travel on the Skeena River. The canyon is a

National Historic Site of Canada National Historic Sites of Canada (french: Lieux historiques nationaux du Canada) are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment An environment minister (sometimes minister of the environment or secretary of t ...

People of the Canyon

" or "Gitselasu" means "People of the Canyon". The Kitselas have lived and lived in the canyon for the past 5,000 years. Kitselas is only one of fourteen tribes in the

Nation. Tsimshian means "in the entrance to the Ksian". The traditional language of the Tsimshian people is Sm’algyax. There are four main clans in the Tsimshian Nation, the Ghanada (Raven), Gispwuda (Killer whale/ Sea Bear/ Black Fish), Lax’sgiik (Eagle), and the LaxGibu (Wolf). The Killer Whale and the Eagle and the Raven clans lived in the Canyon. There are five main village sites in the canyon. The first established village was the village of Tsunyow which means "The Landing place". The second established village was Gitaus which means "people of the sand bar" in the middle of the canyon is Gitlaxdzawk which has two meanings "People of the Fortress" and "People of the place where they steal canoe bottomboards" or " People of the place of Feasts". And the Paul Mason site, sadly there is no recorded history to this site. The Wolves lived in the LaxGyels area (

Lakelse Lake Lakelse Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada located just west of Highway 37 between Terrace and Kitimat. The name is derived from the Coast Tsimshian language word "LaxGyels" - "fresh water mussel", for the mollu ...

) and Klew’nu (Usk).

Houses

The following are houses listed by Wilfred Bennett Sr. *House of Gagawtsgan- Laxsgiik (Eagle Clan) *House of Gitxon- Laxsgiik (Eagle Clan) *House of Iyuus- Laxgiik (Eagle Clan) *House of Nisgitlope-Laxgiik (Eagle Clan) *House of Nis’Hawas- Laxgiik (Eagle Clan) *House of Nis’Nagwalk- Laxgiik (Eagle Clan) *House of Gwam(K’oom)- Ganhada (Raven Clan) *House of Sats’an- Ganhada (Raven Clan) *House of Nis’Taxook- Gispwuda (Killer Whale Clan) *House of Hais- Gispwuda (Killer Whale clan) *House of Lax'tiil- LaxGibu (Wolf Clan) *House of Stee'How- LaxGibu (Wolf Clan)

References

{{Authority control Canyons and gorges of British Columbia Skeena Country Heritage sites in British Columbia National Historic Sites in British Columbia

People of the Canyon

Houses

See also

References