Tsimshian

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Tsimshian languages

The Tsimshian or Ts'msyan (pronunciation: "Sim-SCHI-an" or "SCHIM-schih-än") are a tribal group of 15 First Nations in the historic Pacific Northwest along the bays and islands of the northwest coast and along the estuaries of the Skeena and Nass River to the Canadian province of British Columbia as well as two tribes Annette Iceland and Revillagigedo Iceland the Alexander archipelago in the extreme southeast of the United States associated Alaska . The majority of the approximately 10,000 Tsimshians (Ts'msyan) today live in the area around the cities of Terrace , Prince Rupert and Kitimat in British Columbia and approximately 1,300 to 1,500 in the American cities (New) Metlakatla and Ketchikan off the coast of Alaska Panhandle .

Their current tribal name as Tsimshian is an English adaptation of their autonym as Ts'msyan ("people in the midst of the fog river, i.e. the Skeena River"); this in turn is made up of the words Ts'm ("in the middle, within") as well as K'syen or Ksiyeen ("fog river", derived from K'si - "from, from" and Yeen - " fog ") the designation for the Skeena River. They often referred to individual tribes as Git or Gigyet ("people", plural of Gyet or Gyit - "person") and several or all of the Tsimshian tribes as Gyigyet or Gyikgyet ("peoples").

The Tsimshian (Ts'msyan) used to live along the lower reaches of the Skeena River and on the Pacific coast together with the linguistically and culturally closely related Nisga'a (Nisg̱a'a) ("people along the Nass River") in the north and upstream Gitxsan (Gitskan) ("People of the Fog River, ie from the Skeena River") in the northeast with the collective term Tsimshian . Since the Nisga'a and in particular the Gitxsan had no direct access to the Pacific - like the Tsimshian - and lived inland, they were called the Interior or Inland Tsimshian (inland Tsimshian) ; the Tsimshian in the mouth of the Skeena River in the Pacific and on the offshore islands, however, were referred to as Coast Tsimshian (coastal Tsimshian) . Despite their inland location, the Nisga'a (Nisg̱a'a) and Gitxsan as well as the Tsimshian (Ts'msyan) belong to the north-west coast culture . According to their self-image, however, the three peoples are independent ethnic groups.

Language and culture

language

Mask from British Columbia, 1700–1810, Louvre

Together with the Nisga'a (Nisg̱a'a) ("people along the Nass River") and Gitxsan (Gitskan) ("people from the Mist River, ie from the Skeena River") spoke the Tsimshian (Ts'msyan) ("People in the midst of Fog River, ie the Skeena River ”) two of the four varieties of the Tsimshian (Tsmksian) languages that are now generally counted as part of the Penuti language family ; Within the Penuti, the Tsimshian languages, together with the Chinook (Tsinúk) languages ​​of the various Chinook groups, are also referred to as Maritime Penuti or Coastal Penuti .

Their language, the Tsimshian , (also: Maritime Tsimshian, Lower Tsimshian, Northern Tsimshian), with around 350 (2007-2011) speakers, is one of the severely endangered languages , since mostly only the grandparents' generation have it as their mother tongue and the following generations mostly speak the dominant Canadian or American English , around 50 older Nisga'a also speak the Coast Tsimshian (Sm'algyax), so that around 400 people speak it fluently today.

Their language includes two regional varieties or dialects of the Tsimshian (Tsmksian) languages:

  • Sm'algya̱x (Sm'algyax) or Shim-all-giack ("true, real language", derived from Sm - "true, genuine, strong" and Algya̱x - "language"), better known as Coast Tsimshian (coastal Tsimshian) (also: Northern Tsimshian or Nördliches Tsimshian) - (is still used today by 70 people of the approx. 1300 to 1500 Tsimshian (Golla 2007) in the Alaska Panhandle, on Annette Island, New Metlakatla and Ketchikan in Alaska, USA, as well as by 280 People along the estuary and lower reaches of the Skeena River and north along the coast in British Columbia, Canada, spoken as their mother tongue, and 50 Nisga'a speak it as a second language)
  • Sgüüx̣s (Sguxs), Sgüümsḵ or Ski: xs ("the language beside", also: Old Sm'algyax, as it was regarded as an extremely conservative dialect), better known as Southern Tsimshian (Southern Tsimshian, outdated: Old Klemtu) - ( has been considered an extinct language since the death of the last speaker, Violet Neasloss, in 2013. It used to be spoken by the Gitḵ'a'ata (Gitga'ata) and Gitasts'uu (Kitasoo) along the coast south of the Skeena River ; the latter today adopted the dialect variant of the Haihai (Xai'xais or / Xíxís /), a group of the Heiltsuk (formerly: Bella Bella and Klemtu), whose language is a dialect of the Heiltsuk-Oowekyala language, which belongs to the four Northern Wakashan languages counts)

Political and social organization

The strongly hierarchical and matrilineal society of the Tsimshian (Ts'msyan) (as well as that of the Gitxsan and Nisga'a) was divided into individual exogamous Waap or Walp (a house group), which consisted of one or more closely related families who had their descent each traced back to a parent mother via a maternal line ( Matri-Lineage ). The single Waap (Walp) (House group) each by a Lak'agyet or Lik'agyet (head, plural: Lik'agyigyet ) out and occupied 20 to more than 250 people comprehensive Galts'ipts'ap (settlements, singular: Galt 'ap or G̱a̱ldzap , abbreviated from G̱a̱l - "to include, space for" and Ts'ap - "inhabitant of a village") - were created by the hereditary and leading Sm'oogyit or Sm'oogyet (male chief or "house chief", Plural: Sgyigyet or Smgigyet ) - called Mansm'ooygit (leading male chief) - politically led; if there was no male chief of the maternal line of the leading house group, a Sigidmna'ax or Sgyidmna̱'a̱ (female chief or "house chief") took over this position , these chiefs are (were) represented in special matters by so-called wing chiefs (sub-chiefs) , e.g. B. the use and management of forestry (formerly the forests belonging to them), tourism or activities related to fishing.

The individual Waap (Walp) have their own laxyuup (settlement areas with hunting rights and fishing grounds) and are therefore the social, economic and political basis of society.

Several related Waap (Walp) - so so-called Wuwaap or Wuwalp (plural of Waap or Walp ) - each belonged to one of the four matrilinear traditional Tsimshian Pteex or P'deek ( clans ), whose name derives from the totem animal of the leading Lagüünsk or La̱k'üünsk (family), which are defined and delimited by their own Adawx or Adaawx (tradition, myths and family stories ); these traditional and traditional stories were told by means of Bupts'aan (plural of Pts'aan or Pts'an ) ( totem poles ), which the individual families erected. The clans themselves were in turn divided into at least two or more large matrilineal Wil'naat'ał ( lineages or family associations), each relative of the same Wil'naat'ał among other clans or tribes of the Tsimshian and neighboring peoples such as the Gitskan, Tlingit or Haisla had and thus politically could fall back on a large network that reached beyond their own settlement or their own tribe.

The following clans were represented among all the Tsimshian (Ts'msyan) tribes:

  • Laxgibuu or Laxgyibuu ( wolf clan) - identical to the Laxgibuu / Lax̱gibuu (wolf clan / tribe) of the Nisga'a or the Lax Gibuu (wolf clan) of the Gitxsan
  • G̱anhada or G̱a̱nhada (common raven clan) - identical to the Ganhada / G̱anada (common raven clan / tribe) of the Nisga'a and the Lax See'l (common raven clan) or Lax Ganeda / Ganada ( frog clan) of the Gitxsan
  • Gispwudwada or Gisbutwada ( killer whale clan) - identical to the Gispwudwada or Gisa'aast (killer whale clan / tribe) of the Nisga'a or the Gisgaast / Giskaast ( herbaceous herb (fireweed) clan) of the Gitxsan
  • La̱xsgiik or La̱xsgyiik ( bald eagle clan) - identical to the Laxsgiik / Lax̱sgiik (bald eagle clan / tribe) of the Nisga'a or the Lax Skiik (bald eagle clan) of the western Gitxsan Wilps

Since, as already mentioned above, the Tsimshian (Ts'msyan) in exogamous as well as matrilinear Waap / Walp (house groups), Wil'naat'ał (Lineages or "family associations"), Wuwaap / Wuwalp (tribes) and cross-tribes P ' deek (clans), the children automatically belonged to the Waap (house group) as well as to the mother's P'deek (clan); belonged to B. the father of the Gispwudwada / Gisbutwada (orca clan) and the mother of the Laxgibuu (wolf clan), their children also belonged to the Laxgibuu (wolf clan). If the father belonged to the Tsimshian (Ts'msyan) and the mother originally came from another tribe, the children here also belonged to the P'deek (clan) and tribe of the mother - and not to the Tsimshian (Ts'msyan).

Since the Tsimshian (Ts'msyan) believed that every P'deek (clan) traced back to a common ancestral mother , their marriage rules did not allow marriages within the same P'deek (clan). As a result, they were forced to find their future spouses outside of their own P'deek (clan) within their Wuwaap (tribe) or among neighboring peoples also organized in matrilineal clans - Gitxsan , Nisga'a , Tlingit (Tsimshian name: Gyida̱g̱a̱niits / Gyedag̱aniits - " Northwest wind , ie people from the northwest ”), Haida , Tahltan (Eastern Tsetsaut, Tsimshian name: Stik'iin ), Tsetsaut (Western Tsetsaut, Tsimshian name: Ts'a̱ts'aaw -“ people in the interior ”), Lax̱wiiyip (Portland Inlet Athabascans or Stikine Tahltan, Tsimshian name: Stik'iin ), Wet'suwet'en (Tsimshian name: Githagwilgyet - "people of Hagwilgyet"), Babine or Dakelh - to seek so that these mutual exogamous marriages between two ( or several) groups became the basis of comprehensive alliances between (as with the Athapasques even ethnically and linguistically) different peoples (see exchange of women ). For these tribes it was not linguistic or ethnic origin that was important, but membership of the mother's p'deek (clan), and since all tribes believed that the clans were related to one another, they could also seek help from clan members in times of need or war put under neighboring trunks. So considered z. B. the members of the Laxgibuu / Laxgyibuu (wolf clan) the Tsimshian (Ts'msyan) the tribe members of the Lax Gibuu (wolf clan) the Gitxsan / Gitanyow, the Laxgibuu (wolf clan / tribe) the Nisga'a, of the Ch'aak '/ Gooch naa (eagle / wolf clan) of the Tlingit, of the Kaadaas gaah Kiiguwaay (raven / wolf clan) of the Haida, of the Gitdumden (wolf / bear clan) of the Wet'suwet'en , the CheYonne (wolf clan) of the Tahltan and the wolf clan of the Tsetsaut and Lax̱wiiyip as blood relatives with a common ancestor.

history

The people now known as the Tsimshian were formerly known as the Coast Tsimshian. The name Tsimshian represented a collective term for three groups. In addition to the Coast Tsimshian, these were the Gitxsan and the Nisga'a. Gitxsan and Nisga'a are ethnic groups independent of the Tsimshian.

Early history and cultural foundations

In the sites around Prince Rupert , where the winter villages were located, it was found that between 3000 and 2000 BC. Significantly fewer people lived in the region than at the time of the first contact with Europeans. The houses were much smaller and there was no evidence of status differences. But already at that time all houses were set up along the beach, as is widespread on the Pacific coast to this day.

From around 500 AD, the deposits in the form of clam mounds began to grow much faster, which indicates an equally growing population. There were also larger villages with larger houses. With these houses, more complex woodworking tools and tools for making canoes also appeared.

In addition, the society was clearly structured hierarchically, because the larger houses - apparently the dominant families - stood in the middle of the houses that were smaller towards the edge, an arrangement that can also be seen next to the houses of less prominent families. These "chiefs' houses" were also equipped with objects to increase their prestige .

Most of the cultural elements that the first Europeans encountered at the end of the 18th century were already fully developed by 500. The social rank can be seen not only in the houses, but also in grave goods. The men received weapons as gifts, women received shells and amber pendants , as well as copper earrings. Simple tribesmen had burial places without equipment, slaves were buried without any boxes, some mutilated.

It seems that - probably by tradition - the number of houses in each village was fixed. Each lineage probably already had its own resources. Until around 1830, the Tsimshian lifestyle was hardly changed by contact with European fur traders .

In the past, food was mainly provided by fishing ( halibut , salmon ) and hunting (seals, sea lions, sea otters). This is where they differ from Gitskan and Nisga'a, which - apart from salmon and candle fish - hunted land mammals such as bears and mountain goats.

Like all North Coast Indians, the Tsimshian were subject to a strongly hierarchical social order. The line of succession was determined by the mother's side and the position of each was determined based on membership of one of the four clans (pteex) . The clans were each assigned to a totem animal and were accordingly called Laxsgiik (eagle clan), Gispwudwada (orka), Ganhada (raven) and Laxgibuu (wolf). Marriages were only recognized as legal between these clans; within the clans they were not permitted (see Exogamy : External Marriage).

The chief of a village was provided by the leader of the most influential clan. The leaders of the other clans formed the village council with him. If the chief died, his soul passed into one of the dogs. This was buried with full honors.

A warrior's grave from around AD 200 was found in Prince Rupert Harbor. The dead man had a woman's skull in the grave, possibly a war trophy, two clubs, one made from the bone of an orca jaw, one made from whale bones, a dagger, a copper bracelet, a goat horn and a hammer stone. In addition, there were remains of a kind of armor, such as the Tsimshian warriors wore until around 1800.

Similar to other tribes on the North American west coast, the Tsimshian made most of their everyday objects from the bark of the giant tree of life (red cedar). Tools, clothing, homes, weapons and canoe skin could be made from this material.

The Tlingit attribute their highly developed weaving art, for example the Chilkat blankets, to the Tsimshian. The same goes for other of their art skills. Name exchange, trade and kinship, but also the mutual enslavement between the Tlingit, the Tsimshian and the Haida were common.

The Tsimshian were the Haida’s closest neighbors and often the victims of their raids. Similar to them, the Tsimshian were a seafaring nation. Particularly when it came to the division of fishing grounds and other resources, the capturing of slaves or the exercise of revenge, the competition with the Tlingit resulted in open arguments.

The abundant flowing food source of salmon enabled the Tsimshian to settle down early on and to settle in settlements. As is common with coastal Indians, they lived in long houses . They were particularly long with them and usually housed an entire extended family.

The Tsimshian religion primarily referred to the "Lord of Heaven" who stood by people in times of need by sending his supernatural assistants to assist them. The Tsimshians believed that charity and body purification (in the form of washing or spiritual purification such as fasting) would pave the way for them to the afterlife.

As for all northern coastal Indians, the so-called potlatch was an important part of their ritual activities, which the Tsimshian called yaawk .

The Tsimshian are famous for their complex rituals and the items they use. These rituals include the totem poles , but also dramas, poetry and music. There are songs for every ritual occasion. Lullabies are owned by specific families and are passed down from generation to generation. Overall, the songs can be assigned to three categories: The oldest songs go back a long way and are only performed by specific people at certain festivals; The old songs are also sung in a ceremonial setting ; after all, there are songs that came into being after colonization.

Europeans and Americans

When the first Europeans came to the Tsimshian area at the end of the 18th century, most of them lived in ten tribes around Prince Rupert and the Kitselas Canyon . They had moved here from a great distance to participate in the fur trade and because salmon were abundant here. It was one of the largest villages of the tribe, measuring approximately 180 by 60 meters, stretching along the seashore. In the excavation campaign from 1968 to 1970 around 14,000 m³ of cultured waste were searched, with 500 wooden artefacts that had survived in a stream being found at the nearby Lachane site alone .

So-called shell middens ( Køkkenmøddinger ), often huge piles of mussel waste that neutralize acids through chemical processes, offer an almost even more favorable environment for the conservation of organic material . In this case, around 200 houses were found that, with an average lifespan of 25 years, contributed in constant alternation to piling up the hill. There was also waste.

An unusual source are the pit caches for winter supplies, usually fish. Each family had its own pit that was kept secret. This, in turn, was related to the fact that only one's own storage pit could be revealed in the event of an attack. In particularly harsh winters, this was a realistic fear and at the same time a security measure, because tribes from less favorably located areas then penetrated the Tsimshian villages.

In contrast to the Nuu-chah-nulth and Haida groups living further south , the Tsimshian were able to maintain their regional fur trade monopoly until the beginning of the 1850s.

The end of traditional Tsimshian culture as one of the most influential forces in the region began with the outbreak of smallpox in 1862 , when in just three years 80% of the tribal members died from this disease introduced by Europeans. Today only about 10,000 Tsimshians live.

The Tsimshian Alaska

The structure was the first on Annette Island and was William Duncan's first residence. On the left the Glad Tidings boat on its way back to Fort Simpson in September 1887, from where the first inhabitants had been rowed there.

The Tsimshian Alaskas were victims of religious persecution in late 19th century Canada. Led by missionary William Duncan, a Tsimshian group applied to the US government for the right to settle on Annette Island , Alaska. Once there, Duncan built the village of Neu- Metlakatla with around 50 Tsimshians . They now lived in the Anglican faith and according to European customs. Annette Island has been a reserve since then, and the only remaining one in Alaska since 1971. Residents retained ownership and status of the reservation, waiving the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act . Although it does not belong to a corporation of its own, that is to say to an association of indigenous people, the Tsimshian are allowed to acquire shares in the Sealaska Corporation . Annette Island is also the only place in Alaska where fish traps are allowed to be kept. These were banned when Alaska became a US state in 1959.

First Nations and Tsimshian tribes

Today there are fifteen G̱alts'ipts'ap (settlements, read: tribes ) or First Nations of the Tsimshian in British Columbia, each of which has several Indian reserves under the Indian Act of 1876; in the US state is Alaska are two Tsimshian groups - one is legally the Alaska Natives counted, the others recognized at the federal level ( federally Recognized tribes ) strains that therefore the only indigenous ethnic group in Alaska a reservation Indian possess and therefore can dispose of the tribal land allotted to them herein.

First Nations in British Columbia

  • Gitasts'uu or Gidisdzu - today's Kitasoo / Xaixais First Nation ( abbreviated from git - "people of" and disdzuu - "great, tiered house-depression", which form the Gitasts'uu of Kitasu Bay together with the shark sharks (Xai'xais , / Xíxís / or Hihg-hais) from Kynoc Inlet of Heiltsuk (formerly: Bella Bella or Klemtu) the Kitasoo / Xaixais First Nation , which is now mostly in the administrative center, today's city of Klemtu ( Klemdulxk (Xłmduulxk) - "blocked passage", because the bullkelp formsa kelp forest in the bay), live on Swindle Island on the north coast of the Inside Passage ; Klemtu was a historic Tsimshian settlement on trade routes, later it served this as a trading and supply base for the steamships of the Inside Passage, until before They recently spoke Sgüüx̣s (Sguxs) or Sgüümsḵ (Southern Tsimshian) and are therefore referred to together with the Gitḵ'a'ata (Gitga'ata) as Southern Tsimshian , Reserves: Csnoona # 2, Dil-Ma-Sow ​​# 5, Ganger Island # 14, Goo-Ewe # 8, Kdad-Eesh # 4, Kinma kanksk # 6, Kitasoo # 1, Lattkaloup # 9, Mary Cove # 12, Quckwa # 7, Skilak # 14, Ulthakoush # 11, Weeteeam # 3, population: 518)
  • Gitḵ'a'ata or Gitga'ata - today's Gitga'at First Nation ("people of the reeds ", live mostly in the settlement and administrative seat of Hartley Bay ( Txałgiiw or Txałgiw ) at the mouth of the Douglas Channel on the Pacific coast, BC Today's First Nation is derived from two groups - the Gitḵ'a'ata , who live in Laxgal'tsap ("Old Settlement", also: "Village / Place built on several previous settlements") in the Kitkiata Inlet on the northwest side of the Douglas Channel and other villages and camps in the Douglas Channel, Whale Channel, Wright Sound, Lewis Pass and Camaano Sound; as well as the Gitn'oogad'x who lived in Aristazabal, Campania, Princess Royal and other nearby islands spoke like the Gitasts'uu (Kitasoo) originally Sgüüx̣s (Sguxs) or Sgüümsḵ (Southern Tsimshian) , but took over the Sm'algya̱x (Sm'algyax) or Coast Tsimshian of the northern Tsimshians in themid-19th century, Reserves: Gander Island # 14 , Gill Island # 2, Gribble Island # 10, Kahas # 7, Kayel # 8, Kitkahta # 1, Kulkayu (Hartley Bay) # 4, Kulkayu (Hartley Bay) # 4a, Kunhunoan # 13, Lachkul-Jeets # 6, Lackzuswadda # 9, Maple Point # 11, Quaal # 3, Quaal # 3a, Turtle Point # 12, Population: 735)
  • Gitxaała or Kitkatla - today's Gitxaala Nation (derived from git - "people from / from" and kxaała - "open sea", ie "people of the open sea", as they lived furthest away from the Tsimshian on the mainland) settle in the village of the same name Kitkatla (also called La̱x Klan ), about 45 km southwest of Prince Rupert on Dolphin Island, according to tradition, the Gitxaała were the first Tsimshians who came into contact with the Europeans and the first to own rifles, also earlier than Porcher Island Indians , in the first phase of contact they were also named after their most important chief at the time, Ts'ibasaa, as Sebassa tribe , Reserves: Citeyats # 9, Clowel # 13, Dolphin Island # 1, Grassy Islet # 2, Keecha # 11, Keswar # 16, Keyarka # 17, Kitlawaoo # 10, Kitsemenlagan # 19, Kitsemenlagan # 19A, Klapthlon # 5, Klapthlon # 5A, Kooryet # 12, Kul # 18, Kumowdah # 3, Pa-aat # 6, Sand Island # 4, Sheganny # 14, Toowartz # 8, Tsimairen # 15, Tsimtack # 7, population: 1,911)
  • Gitsmḵ'eelm or Kitsumkalum - Today Kitsumkalum First Nation (abgel of. Git - "people to / from" ts'm - "in" and ḵ'eelm -.. "Plateau", ie "the people from the plateau," the council is based in Kitsumkalum west of Terrace , Reserves: Dalk-ka-gila-quoeux # 2, Kitsumkaylum # 1, Port Essington (shared with the Kitselas First Nation , Zimagord # 3, population: 738)
  • Gits'ilaasü or Gitselaasik (Kitselas) - today's Kitselas First Nation (abbreviated from git "Volk vom / von" and ts'ilaasü - "Canyon", ie "Volk vom Canyon") the administrative seat, which is now also developing into the main settlement. is Gitaus near Kitselas, BC, lived furthest up the Skeena River inland to Kitselas Canyon , the border with the Gitxsan tribal area, Reserves: Kitselas # 1 (Tsimshian Name: Git'aws), Chimdimash # 2 (Tsimshian Name: Tsmdimaas ), Chimdimash # 2A (Tsimshian Name: Tsmdimaas), Ikshenigwolk # 3 (Tsimshian Name: Ks'nigwaalk), Kshish # 4, (Tsimshian Name: Endudoon), Kshish # 4B (Tsimshian Name: Endudoon), Zaimoetz # 5 (Tsimshian Name: Tsmhuutsa), Kulspai # 6 (Tsimshian Name: Gn spaa), Ketoneda # 7 (Tsimshian Name: Git'ndaa), Spkshuut # 8, three of the reserves are inhabited (Gitaus, Kulspai and Endudoon), population: 616)
  • Gitlaxkw'alaams or Lax Kw'alaams - today Lax Kw'alaams Band ( Gitlaxkw'alaams - "People where the wild rose bushes bloom", formerly often simply called Port Simpson Indians , derived from Laxlgu'alaams - "Island of the wild rose bushes “, The Tsimshian name for the settlement on the Lower Skeena River later called Port Simpson, Reserves: Alastair # 80, Alastair # 81, Alastair # 82, Alder Creek # 70, Bill Lake # 37, Birnie Island # 18, Burnt Cliff Islands # 20, Carm Creek # 38, Channel Islands # 33, Dashken # 22, Dundas Island # 32B, Dzagayap # 73, Dzagayap # 74, Ensheshese # 13, Ensheshese # 53, Far West Point # 34, Finlayson Island # 19, Gitandoiks # 75, Gitandoiks # 76, Iakgwas # 69, Iakvas # 68, Iakwulgyiyaps # 78, Imkusiyan # 65, Kasika # 36, Kasika # 71, Kasika # 72, Kasika River # 29, Kateen River # 39, Ketai # 28, Khtahda # 10, Khutzemateen # 49, Khyek # 8, Klakelse # 86, Knamadeek # 52, Knames # 45, Knames # 46, Knokmolks # 67, Ksabasn # 50, Ksadagamks # 43, Ksadks # 44, Ksagwisgwas # 62, Ksagwisgwas # 63 , Ksames # 85, Ksh aoom # 23, Kstus # 83, Kstus # 84, Ktamgaodzen # 51, Kyek # 64, Lachmach # 16, Lakelse # 25, Lakelse # 87, Lax Kw'alaams # 1, Maganktoon # 56, Maklaksadagmaks # 41, Maklaksadagmaks # 42 , Me-Yah-Law # 47, Meanlaw # 24, Meyanlow # 58, Ndakdolk # 54, Nishanocknawnak # 35, Pitt Island # 27, Prince Leboo Island # 32, Psacelay # 77, Red Bluff # 88, Salvus # 26, Scuttsap # 11, Scuttsap # 11A, Spakels # 17, Spanaknok # 57, Spayaks # 60, Spokwan # 48, Toon # 15, Tsemknawalqan # 79, Tymgowzan # 12, Union Bay # 31, Wilskaskammel # 14, Wudzimagon # 61, Zayas Island # 32A, population: 3,675)
    • Giluts'aaẅ or Giluts'aaw (Gyilodzau) ("people inland", the name refers to the location of their historical settlement behind a small island in a swamp along the Skeena River, their traditional territory including the area around Lakelse Lake as well along Lakelse River, between Terrace and Kitimat , the name of the city is derived from Gitamaat - "people of the falling snow", the Tsimshian name for the Haisla , since 1834 they have been in Lax Kw'alaams (formerly: Port Simpson) )
    • Ginadoiks or Gitnadoiks ("people at the rapids or the fast flowing water", their traditional territory included the river basin of the Gitnadoiks River, a tributary of the Skeena River, they have been in Lax Kw'alaams (formerly: Port Simpson) since 1834)
    • Ginaxangiik ("people of the hemlock ", their traditional territory included the river basin of the Exchamsiks River, a tributary of the Skeena River, since 1834 they have been in Lax Kw'alaams (formerly: Port Simpson))
    • Gispaxlo'ots or Gispaxlawts (derived from git - "people from / from", spa̱ - "place from, home from", x - "consume, eat" and lo'ots - "blue elder", ie "people from the place where blue elder is eaten ”, their traditional territory comprised an area along the Skeena River between the present-day cities of Terrace and Prince Rupert, they have been Lax Kw'alaams (formerly: Port Simpson) since 1834, historically the Gispaxlo'ots were most powerful and richest among the Tsimshian tribes, due to the heroic deeds, military successes and the wealth of their great trading chief Ligeex - this is also the reason for the establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company trading post precisely at this location as Port Simpson (today: Lax Kw'alaams), as this was on the territory of the Gispaxlo'ots and their powerful chiefs)
    • Gitando (“people of the weirs”), their traditional territory comprised the river basin of the Exstew River, a tributary of the Skeena River, they are the youngest of the Tsimshian tribes, they had formed from fighting alliances against Tlingit and Haida to pursue their predatory and slave hunts against the Tsimshian; this often involved conquering hunting and fishing grounds or dominating important trade routes, which is why the Gitando are closely related to the neighboring, powerful Gispaxlo'ots , which havedominated tradesince 1834 she is based in Lax Kw'alaams (formerly: Port Simpson))
    • Gitlaan ("people of the canoe stern", their traditional territory included the river basin of the Zimacord River, a tributary of the Skeena River, an area on the river bank looked from a distance like the stern of a canoe, so they were named after this formation, (the Area along the Zimacord is alsoclaimedby the Gitsmḵ'eelm (Kitsumkalum ), since 1834 they have been based in Lax Kw'alaams (formerly: Port Simpson)
    • Gits'iis (derived from git - "people from / from" and ts'iis - "fish weir ", i.e. "people of the fish weirs"), another translation / interpretation of the name Gits'iis is "people of seal traps ", its traditional one Territory included areas around Khutzymateen Inlet and Work Channel between the settlements of Lax Kw'alaams and Kincolith, since 1834 they have been located in Lax Kw'alaams (formerly: Port Simpson)
    • Gitwilgyoots or Gitwilgyots ("people where the kelp grows", their traditional territory comprised areas in the area of ​​the estuary of the Skeena River, since 1834 they have been located in Lax Kw'alaams (formerly: Port Simpson))
    • Gitzaxłaał ("people of (an unidentified species of shrub)," their traditional territory included the river basin of the Ecstall River, a tributary of the Skeena River, including what is now the ghost town of Port Essington, BC, as well as areas on Dundas Island, since 1834 they are based in Lax Kw'alaams (formerly: Port Simpson)
  • Gitsisayda - today's Metlakatla First Nation ( Gitsisayda , derived from git - "people" and sisayda - "community"), live today in the settlement (Old) Metlakatla , approx. 7 km west of Prince Rupert, which can only be reached by boat, Metlakatla ( Maxłaxaała - "salt water pass") was once the historical common winter settlement of all tribes of Lax Kw'alaams (Port Simpson) , today's tribal members of the Metlakatla First Nation are descendants of approx. 350 Tsimshians of Lax Kw'alaams (Port Simpson ) - the so-called "Nine Tribes or Allied Tribes of the Coast Tsimshian" of today's Lax Kw'alaams Band - as well as some other Tsimshian tribes who established a utopian Christian community here under the leadership of the Anglican lay preacher William Duncan in 1862 than in the same yearWhenthe smallpox epidemic raged in Lax Kw'alaams (Port Simpson) and metlakatla was largely spared, this was interpreted as divine confirmation by Duncan and the Tsimshian, so that the community s quickly grew to 1,100 people in 1879, due to disputes within the church, Duncan went canoeing north with 826 Tsimshian in 1887 and founded (New) Metlakatla in Alaska; Although both First Nations - Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams - inhabit many Indian Reserves together, they are two independent First Nations, but at the same time, according to the Indian Act, both are the political and legal representatives of the members of the "Nine Tribes or Allied Tribes" , Reserves: Avery Island # 92, Dashken # 22 (together with the Lax Kw'alaams Band ), Edye # 93, Khtahda # 10 (together with the Lax Kw'alaams Band ), Khyek # 8 (together with the Lax Kw ' alaams Band ), Kshaoom # 23 (together with the Lax Kw'alaams Band ), Lakelse # 25 (together with the Lax Kw'alaams Band ), Meanlaw # 24 (together with the Lax Kw'alaams Band ), Rushton Island # 90 , S1 / 2 Tsimpsean # 2, Scuttsap # 11 (together with the Lax Kw'alaams Band ), Shoowahtlans (Shawtlans) # 4, Squaderee # 91, Tuck Inlet # 89, Tugwell Island # 21, Wilnaskancaud # 3, population: 866 )

Tribes in Alaska

Todays situation

Many Tsimshians have made their traditional craftsmanship their profession and their festivals and the language are taught and celebrated again in many state schools in the region. Tsimshian Ed E. Bryant , who lives in Germany, is probably the best-known artist of his people. Freda Diesing (1925–2002) was best known for her woodwork.

The Tsimshians, who mainly live in Canada, have expressed their interest in an agreement to secure their settlements and fishing grounds since 1879. But only since 1983 have they been in negotiations with the Canadian federal government and the provincial government of British Columbia, which are supposed to regulate, for example, property and fish rights as well as compensation for the injustice committed to the Tsimshian. In 1997 the framework conditions for a contract could be defined, the details should then be agreed in a basic contract. These negotiations were carried out on behalf of 16 Tsimshian tribes by the Tsimshian Tribal Council , which, however, dissolved at the end of 2005 due to legal and political difficulties. It is still unclear which successor organization can continue the negotiations.

literature

See also

Web links

Commons : Tsimshian  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ↑ Sm'algyax Living Legacy Talking Dictionary
  2. ^ The South Tsimshian Language
  3. ↑ GITGA'AT SOCIETY (as an example of the importance of the Waap (house group) and the P'deek (clans) among the Tsimshian)
  4. ↑ Susan Marsden - ADAWX, SPANAXNOX, AND THE GEOPOLITICS OF THE TSIMSHIAN ( Memento of the original from May 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / prophet.library.ubc.ca
  5. ↑ The indigenous names for the socio-political organization and for the Tsimshian clans are taken from the Sm'algyax Living Legacy Talking Dictionary listed above
  6. ↑ Laxwiiyip Tsetsaut , today's descendants, website
  7. ↑ The peoples of the Wet'suwet'en, Babine and Dakelh, who belong to the North Athapasques, took over the clan system of the neighboring Tsimshian-speaking groups and were also divided into several clans, Wet'suwet'en: Gilseyhu (Big Frog Clan), Laksilyu (Little Frog Clan), Gitdumden (Wolf / Bear Clan), Laksamshu (Fireweed Clan), Tsayu (Beaver Clan), Babine: Likh c'ibu (Bear Clan), Likh tsa mis xu (Beaver Clan), Jilh tsekh xu (frog clan) and Gilanton (caribou clan) and Dakelh: Likh ji bu (bear clan), Gilhanten (caribou clan), Jihl tse yu (frog clan) and Likh sta Mis yu (beaver clan) .
  8. ^ Tahltan Clans ( Memento from June 11, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  9. ↑ In the language of the Nisga'a: Jits'aawit ; in the language of the Tsetsaut: Wetaŀ or Wetaɬ
  10. ↑ The indigenous clan names of the Lax̱wiiyip are unfortunately not passed down, but the above note about today's descendants
  11. ↑ A dog grave is shown here: Dog Burial .
  12. ↑ On the importance of slavery on the North American Pacific coast between Alaska and the Columbia River see Leland Donald: Aboriginal Slavery on the Northwest Coast of North America. University of California Press, Berkeley 1997.
  13. ↑ Ellen Moses: Love and Lonesome Songs of the Skeena River. In: Canadian Journal for Traditional Music. 1980 ( online at cjtm.icaap.org ).
  14. ↑ Kitasoo / Xai'xais History ( Memento of the original dated May 7, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.spiritbear.com
  15. ↑ website of the Gitga'at First Nation
  16. ↑ the name Lax̱g̱alts'ap is also used for the Nisga'a Village of Laxgalt'sap (formerly: Greenville) of the same name
  17. ↑ homepage Gitxaala Nation
  18. ↑ Another translation / interpretation of the name Gitxaała: "The people of the channel", derived from xaała / kxaała - "where the wind lies down" or "channel"
  19. ^ Homepage of the Kitsumkalum First Nation
  20. ^ Homepage of the Kitselas First Nation
  21. ↑ Homepage of the Lax Kw'alaams Band
  22. ^ Homepage of the Metlakatla Nation
  23. ^ Homepage of the Metlakatla Indian Community
  24. ↑ Homepage of the Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC)
  25. ↑ Homepage of the Sealaska Corporation ( Memento of the original from May 20, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.sealaska.com
  26. ↑ Homepage of the Totem Heritage Center Museum
  27. ↑ the Community Database Center Online
  28. ↑ Cf. Kitsumkalum People - Tsimshian Treaty Process ( Memento of the original from September 2, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.kitsumkalum.bc.ca
  29. ↑ BC Treaty Commission - Tsimshian First Nations ( Memento of the original from June 24, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bctreaty.net