<
Long before the Trans Canada Trail, Native people have travelled the trail for countless centuries in harmony with nature, drawing upon it for their spirituality, subsistence and survival. The 'Ksan of British Columbia are one such people.
The Gitksan, people of the Skeena, River of the Mist. For thousands of years the Gitksan have lived along the banks of the Skeena River, from which they draw their name. The rich natural environment allowed them to live comfortably and to develop permanent settlements, like the one at 'Ksan today. The rivers teemed with bountiful runs of salmon that were netted and trapped. Smoked and stored, they provided food for winter months. The forests were home to animals, berries, and roots. Equally important, were the huge red cedar trees which were used to make totem poles, canoes, storage boxes, ropes, cedar bark clothing and to construct cedar plank long houses.
The Gitksan people are made up of four groups: Wolf, Firewood, Frog and Eagle. Each clan is further divided into houses. The members in a house claim their descent from a common ancestor on their mother's side. Each house has claim to a territory and it is the House Chief's responsibility to manage the natural resources within this territory. Today the Gitksan are a strong people who continue to be governed in the ancient ways. Chiefs continue to pass down their names in the feast hall and continue to honour the ada'awk (family history) in song, dance and ceremony.
To learn more about our Native Roots choose the next button otherwise you may return to the Table of Contents.
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page