Gitxsan, "The People of the River of Mist"

1. Gitxsan Basics
   Gitxsan means "The People of Xsan, the River of Mist", the Upper Skeena River, Northern British Columbia. The 13,000 Gitxsan are born into 1 of 65 wilphl Gitxsan, the most fundamental entity in Gitxsan Society, not the Indian bands pursuant to the Indian Act, statute of Canada. Vital inherency is determine matrilineally; that is, memberships and assets follow the mother. Salient characteristics:

Gwalx ye'inst is the totality of vital inherency peculiar to, defined and shaped by the wilphl Gitxsan. A metaphor describing gwalx ye'inst is the kal ink or the treasure box that contains all the assets, tangible or not, and coveted by the wilphl Gitxsan. The 'bad of all the bad' is an empty treasure box or for a wilphl Gitxsan to have no competent heirs to the gwalx ye'inst. No heirs mean the 'end of the line'.

Daxgyat is the authority, strength, and confidence inherited by the simogyat, the hereditary leader of a wilphl Gitxsan. The simogyat's ancient tribal obligation is to give expression to their daxgyat for the greater good of the wilphl Gitxsan and the Gitxsan.

Gitxsanimax is the language of the Gitxsan. Gitxsanimax is the ancient mode of everyday communication. More importantly, all the nuances and peculiarity of Gitxsan essence and identity are intrinsic to Gitxsanimax. Unfortunately, only 7.7% of the 13,000 Gitxsan are fluent today, down from 25% about 10 years. At this rate, Gitxsanimax will be extinct by 2038.

Ayok are the laws of the Gitxsan evolving for at least 12,000 years. The laws dictate behavior of the Gitxsan regarding memebership, marriage, inherency, ownership of assets, obligations, protocol, and processes. Ayok is typically incorretly devalued by the apparatus of mainstream Canada; thus, relegated to customary practise.

Liligit is the venue where important business of a wilphl Gitxsan is conducted in accordance to the ayok. It is also popularly known as the feast or the potlatch. Examples are the wedding, divorce, memorial, settlement, and making peace.

Simogyat is the chosen by the members of the wilphl Gitxsan. The simogyat has the heavy tribal obligation of maintaining and improving the status of the wilphl Gitxsan. How the simogyat gives expression to daxgyat reflects on the wilphl Gitxsan. If the simogyat makes good decisions and choices then the wilphl Gitxsan will benefit and flourish; if not, the wilphl Gitxsan will diminish in status and power. Being a simogyat is not gender specific.

Sigidimhanak is the family keeper of a wilphl Gitxsan. Their rank is equal to a simogyat and typically have final approval in the determinations of the wilp Gitxsan. They are characterized as the clan mother or matriarch.

Adaawk is the oral history that recounts ancient memories and history of wlphl Gitxsan. The origin, identity, and assets of a wilphl Gitxsan is typically linked to its adaawk. Their limx o'y, ancient time immemorable songs, are associated with the adaawk. Although the adaawk is routed in antiquity, each generation of each wilphl Gitxsan add to their adaawk.

Lax Yip is the territory that a wilphl Gitxsan owns and has jurisdiction over in accordance to ayok and apply today in modern commercialized mainstream Canada.

Yuuhlimax are the teachings of the Gitxsan garnered from lessons learned from mistakes made. The teachings have application to and used by aunts and uncles to coach and groom their nieces, nephews, and grandchildren for everyday life. Yuuhlimax is sharply targetted at the heirs for ingestion.

Please note Gitxsan Basics are just that: basics. They are shared so the readers will garner a rudimentary picture of the Gitxsan. Gitxsan Society is very real, ancient, elegant, complex, decent, and steeped with integrity. The intent is to dissolve stereotypes that are typical and mainstream to Canada.

Watch for discussion on Gitxsan State of the Nation, the Indian Residential School experience, and the Gitxsan agenda to be published in the near future.

Sabax.

Kali Skalan, Wilps Dawa Muux, Kali Aks Gitxsan

Photo of Stekyodinhl overlooking the confluence of Xsan (Skeena River; on the right) and Xsan An Do'o (Bulkley River; spilling into Xsan) with a portion Gitanmaax showing. Credits: Google Earth.