Last modified: 2021-04-17 by rick wyatt
Keywords: gitxsan nation | british columbia | native american |
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There are approximately 13,000 members of the Gitxsan nation worldwide, with
about 70% living on the traditional territories. The population is young
compared to provincial and Canadian statistics with over 70% under the age of
30. Most live in five Gitxsan villages (Gitwangak, Gitsegukla, Gitanmaax, Glen
Vowell, Kispiox) and two provincial municipalities (Hazelton, New Hazelton). The
Gitxsan people make up about 80% of the total population living on the
territories. The remaining population is mostly of European descent.
Settlement of the area by non-Gitxsan began around the turn of the century.
Gitxsan people have lived on the territory since creation. Western
archaeological evidence has so far supported more than 10,000 years of
occupation by the Gitxsan. The English translation of the Gitxsan is "People of
the River of Mist".
Clans and Wilps
For the Gitxsan people, the
Wilp and clan are the two most important units of society. A person is born into
a particular Wilp and clan. The Gitxsan, like many other small societies, are
well organized through kinship lines. Kinship organizes most aspects of life
including property ownership, economic activity, residence patterns, education,
marriage, inheritance, political activity and most social relationships. All of
these spheres of existence are determined by one's kin group membership. The
basic kinship unit is the Wilp or House. The Wilp is composed of a group of
matrilinearly-related kin. In some Wilps the biological relationships between
all Wilp members is known. In other Wilps there may be two to six lineages
between whom the relationship is no longer remembered. This is sometimes
expressed as "maybe our grandmothers were sisters."
There are about 45 to
65 Wilps, each ranging from 20 to 250 members and belonging to one of the four
clans: Lax Gibuu, Lax Skiik, Lax Seel/Ganeda, Giskaast (Wolf , Eagle, Frog,
Fireweed). The Wilp is a political unit with a considerable degree of autonomy.
Each Wilp controls most of its own affairs. However, the chief's power never
becomes dictatorial. In fact, as expressed in the adaawk, dictatorial power is a
matter of serious concern.
Recocnized Tribes belonging to the Gitxsan
Nation
-Gitanmaax Band
-Gitanyou Band
-Gitsegukla Indian Band
-Gitwangak
Indian Band
-Glen Vowell Indian Band
-Kispiox Band Council
The flag
of the Nation is white with Nation's logo on it.
Valentin Poposki, 7
November 2019
image located by Janis Lasmanis, 7 April 2021
A version of the flag also carries the text "Gitxsan Chiefs" at the bottom.
Ben Cahoon, 7 April 2021