Topic summary

Gitxsan language

Gitxsan language

Gitxsan, or Gitxsanimaax (also rendered Gitksan, Giatikshan, Gityskyan, Giklsan and Sim Algyax), is an endangered Tsimshianic language of northwestern British Columbia, closely related to the neighboring Nisga’a language. The two groups are, however, politically separate and prefer to refer to Gitxsan and Nisga'a as distinct languages. According to the Report on the status of B.C First Nations Languages there are 255 fluent speakers, 339 that understand or somewhat speak and 648 learning speakers.

Gitxsan means "People of the river of mist", referring to the Skeena River.