https://luudisk.org/mediawiki/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Overview_of_Tsm%E2%80%99syen_tribesOverview of Tsm’syen tribes - Revision history2026-07-28T13:48:41ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.5https://luudisk.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Overview_of_Tsm%E2%80%99syen_tribes&diff=118&oldid=prevAmusterer: initiation2025-12-14T00:41:45Z<p>initiation</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>= Creating an Overview of Ts’msyen Tribes =<br />
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The Ts’msyen (often written Tsimshian) are a group of closely related Indigenous peoples whose territories extend along the lower Skeena River, coastal inlets, and nearby islands of the northern Pacific coast.<br />
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Ts’msyen peoples are bound together by:<br />
* a shared legal order (*ayaawx*)<br />
* true histories (*adaawx*) carried by houses (*wilp*)<br />
* crest-based authority and obligation<br />
* feast governance as public law<br />
* Sm’algyax language roots, with dialectal variation<br />
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Each Ts’msyen tribe and community governs itself while remaining connected through law, kinship, and shared history.<br />
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== Present-day Ts’msyen and Related Coastal Nations ==<br />
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=== Gitga’at ===<br />
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'''Gitga’at''' (Tsimshian: '''Gitḵ'a'ata''', lit. “People of the Cane”) are represented today by the '''Gitga’at First Nation'''.<br />
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Their community is '''Hartley Bay''' ('''Txałgiu / Txałgiiw'''), British Columbia.<br />
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=== Gitxaała ===<br />
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'''Gitxaała''' (Tsimshian: '''Gitxaała''', lit. “people of the open sea”, also '''Git Lax M’oon''', “people of the salt water”) are represented by the '''Gitxaala Nation'''.<br />
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They live in the village of '''Kitkatla''' ('''La̱x Klan'''), British Columbia.<br />
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=== Kitsumkalum ===<br />
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'''Kitsumkalum''' (Tsimshian: '''Gitsumkalum''', lit. “people of the plateau”) are represented by the '''Kitsumkalum First Nation'''.<br />
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Their community is located near '''Terrace, British Columbia'''.<br />
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=== Kitselas ===<br />
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'''Kitselas''' (Tsimshian: '''Gitselasu''', lit. “people of the Canyon”) are represented by the '''Kitselas First Nation'''.<br />
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Their community is located near '''Terrace, British Columbia'''.<br />
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=== Metlakatla (British Columbia) ===<br />
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'''Metlakatla''' (British Columbia) developed through a distinct historical process shaped by missionization.<br />
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Despite this history, Ts’msyen identity continues through houses, crests, clans, and feast governance.<br />
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=== Metlakatla (Alaska) ===<br />
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'''Metlakatla, Alaska''' was established following relocation from British Columbia.<br />
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It is the most recent Ts’msyen community and includes lineages from all Ts’msyen peoples, maintaining continuity of houses, crests, and feast practices across an international boundary.<br />
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=== Lax Kw’alaams (Port Simpson) ===<br />
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'''Lax Kw’alaams''', historically known as '''Port Simpson''', is a major coastal Ts’msyen community and long-standing gathering place.<br />
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It is characterized by:<br />
* strong feast governance<br />
* extensive adaawx held by many houses<br />
* marine and coastal territorial authority<br />
* historical regional leadership and intertribal gathering<br />
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=== Kitasoo / Xai’xais (Klemtu) ===<br />
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'''Kitasoo''' (Tsimshian: '''Gitasts'uu''', lit. “(People of) a large, tiered house-depression”), together with the '''Xai’xais''', a Heiltsuk group from Kynoch Inlet, form the '''Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation'''.<br />
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Their community is '''Klemtu''' ('''Klemdulxk / Xłmduulxk'''), British Columbia.<br />
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While Kitasoo/Xai’xais is a distinct Nation, long-standing relationships with Ts’msyen peoples exist through travel, trade, intermarriage, and shared maritime law.<br />
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== The Nine Ts’msyen Peoples (Historical Reference) ==<br />
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Ts’msyen oral tradition and early historical records describe **nine Ts’msyen peoples**.<br />
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At the time Indian Agents assigned reserve communities, some Chiefs of these nine peoples were located at '''Fort Simpson''' (later '''Lax Kw’alaams / Port Simpson''').<br />
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They are commonly listed as:<br />
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* '''Giluts'aaw'''<br />
* '''Ginadoiks'''<br />
* '''Ginaxangiik'''<br />
* '''Gispaxlo'ots'''<br />
* '''Gitando'''<br />
* '''Gitlaan'''<br />
* '''Gits'iis'''<br />
* '''Gitwilgyoots'''<br />
* '''Gitzaxłaał'''<br />
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Other Chiefs were located at the mission-created community of '''Metlakatla''', with some later migrating to '''Metlakatla, Alaska'''.<br />
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This historical gathering reflects coexistence under shared law rather than centralized authority.<br />
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== Clans ==<br />
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Ts’msyen society is organized through four major clans:<br />
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* '''Gispwudwada''' — Killer Whale Clan <br />
* '''Ganhada''' — Raven Clan <br />
* '''Laxgibuu''' — Wolf Clan <br />
* '''Laxsgiik''' — Eagle Clan <br />
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Clans extend across tribes and communities and are central to crest authority, marriage law, and feast governance.<br />
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== Continuity ==<br />
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Ts’msyen law, identity, and governance continue through:<br />
* houses (*wilp*)<br />
* crests and names<br />
* clans<br />
* feast witnessing<br />
* intergenerational teaching<br />
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Modern political boundaries do not replace these foundations.</div>Amusterer