Ksyeen
Ksiyeen
- Sm'algyax
- Ksiyeen
- English
- Skeena River (mid and lower reaches)
- Category
- River · Main travel and trade corridor
- Region
- Ts'msyen territories · North Coast of British Columbia
Summary
Ksiyeen is the Sm'algyax name for the Skeena River, one of the main river systems running through Ts'msyen laxyuubm (territories). It connects the inland communities and canyons to the coastal inlets and islands, and forms the backbone of many travel, trade, and seasonal movements.
This page gathers language, ayaawx, adawx, and historical information connected to Ksiyeen.
Names and Meanings
- Sm'algyax: Ksiyeen
- English: Skeena River
- Other spellings: (add variants here if found in older records)
- Literal / deeper meaning: (to be confirmed)
> Add notes on meaning, older spellings from Beynon, Marsden, or other sources here.
Location and Geography
- Source: (add if known)
- Mouth: near Lax Kxeen (Prince Rupert Harbour)
- Major connected places:
- Kitsumkalum – village and galts’ap near the Skeena
- Gitsalasu – Kitselas Canyon on Ksiyeen
- (add other villages, tributaries, canyons)
Add a simple description of how Ksiyeen flows, which house territories it passes, and key landmarks along the river.
Ayaawx (Law) and Adawx (Histories)
- Ayaawx connected to Ksiyeen
- To be added.
Add laws, responsibilities, and protocols relating to:
- travel on the river
- fishing and access
- safety, warnings, and spiritual respect for the waters
- Adawx and Stories
- To be added.
Add stories that:
- happen on or along Ksiyeen
- describe how rights to sections of the river were established
- explain why certain places along the river are sacred or dangerous
Use short summaries and link to full story pages when those are created.
Seasonal Use and Resources
- Fish: salmon species, eulachon, trout (add specifics)
- Plants: riverbank berry patches, medicines, cedar access points
- Hunting: (add notes if applicable)
Describe:
- when families moved to and from Ksiyeen
- which Wilp used which stretches
- important fishing stations or scaffolds (if appropriate to share)
Wilp, Clans, and Territories
List houses and clans whose territories include important stretches along Ksiyeen. Do not disclose anything too sensitive; focus on what is already broadly known or shared publicly.
- Example: Wilp ___ (clan) – section near ______
- Example: Wilp ___ – canyon or confluence at ______
You can link each Wilp name to its own house page.
Maps and GIS Notes
- Approximate coordinates used on Luudisk map:
- 54.50 N, 128.70 W (adjust as needed)
- Linked map view:
If you are using the Luudisk Map Suite, this page corresponds to the entry with ID ksiyeen in places.json.
Related Pages
- Kitsumkalum
- Gitsalasu
- Kitselas Canyon (if separate page)
- Ts'msyen Rivers Index (future index page)
- Ts'msyen Laxyuubm (Territories)
Sources and Notes
- Add references to Beynon notes, Marsden, oral history interviews, and commun*