Kitselas Canyon

The Hazelton at Kitselas Canyon

Kitselas Canyon, also Kitsalas Canyon is a stretch of the Skeena River in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, between the community of Usk and the Tsimshian community of Kitselas. It was a major obstacle to steamboat travel on the Skeena River.

The canyon is a National Historic Site of Canada.[1]

People of the Canyon

"Kitselas" or "Gitselasu" means “People of the Canyon”. The Kitselas have lived and resided in the canyon for the past 5,000 years. Kitselas is only one of fourteen tribes in the Tsimshian 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 resided 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 steel 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 resided in the LaxGyels area (Lakelse Lake) and Klew’nu (Usk).

Houses

The following are houses listed by Wilfred Bennett Sr.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kitselas Canyon. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 22 January 2012.

Coordinates: 54°36′N 128°26′W / 54.600°N 128.433°W / 54.600; -128.433

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