Marriage within a clan is forbidden. Gitxsan are a matrilineal society that consists of Frog, Eagle, Wolf, and Fireweed Clans. The Gitxsan pre-contact economy was based on the trading of salmon, other natural resources, and products/goods derived from these resources. The land is maintained according to … The Gitxsan pre-contact economy was based on the trading of salmon, other natural resources, and products/goods derived from these resources. Recent History The legal action taken by the Gitxsan to the Supreme Court of Canada is the most recent in a long list of attempts to seek recognition of - and assert - its ownership, jurisdiction, and aboriginal title over 33,000 square kilometres of traditional territory in … Thirteen years later, the Supreme Court of Canada decided the case, which became known as “Delgamuukw.” The ruling set a new precedent for proving aboriginal title, defined “consultation” and “accommodation.”. The Gitxsan “People of the River Mist” have presided over their 33,000km sq. The Gitxsan had a well-organized, The legal action taken by the Gitxsan to the Supreme Court of Canada is the most recent in a long list of attempts to seek recognition of - and assert - its ownership, jurisdiction, and aboriginal title over 33,000 square kilometres of traditional territory in northwestern BC, and its right to, Copyright © 2005 - 2013 Gitxsan All Rights Reserved. Gitxsan are a matrilineal society that consists of Frog, Eagle, Wolf, and Fireweed Clans. ", society that consists of Frog, Eagle, Wolf, and Fireweed. This includes the Hazelton area and the Babine, Bulkley, Kispiox and ​Skeena Rivers​. The Gitxsan people make up about 80% of the total population living on the territories. There are approximately 13,000 members of the Gitxsan nation worldwide, with about 70% living on the traditional territories. Lots of trading occurred along grease trails with neighboring coastal First Nations for oolichan (candle fish) grease. The Gitxsan had a well-organized Each clan consists of a series of independent Houses (Wilp), each with their own High Chief, and traditional territories and fishing sites. According to the Gitxsan Nation, Gitxsan territory (known as Lax Yip) covers 33,000 km2 of land and water in northwestern ​British Columbia. I… In response, the Gitxsan created their own business entity, the Gitxsan Development Corporation. Click Here to learn more. Thirteen years later, the Supreme Court of Canada decided the case, which became known as “, "We must educate our youth to enable us as Gitxsan to be part of the world economy, and through our traditional teachings of our values and spirituality establish a strong Gitxsan Nation rooted in our lax yip; lax yip that will always be sustainable. Lots of trading occurred along grease trails with neighboring coastal First Nations for oolichan (candle fish) grease. Most live in five Gitxsan villages (Gitwangak, Gitsegukla, Gitanmaax, Sik-e-dah, Kispiox) and two provincial municipalities (Hazelton, New Hazelton). The Gitxsan people make up about 80% of the total population living on the territories. Each clan consists of a series of independent Houses (Wilp), each with their own High Chief, and traditional territories and fishing sites. History of Resistance 10,000+ years ago - Archaeologists have dated village and cache sites to be more than six thousand years old. Website by, In 1984, to seek recognition of, and to assert its ownership over its traditional territories, the Gitxsan took legal action. HISTORY The Gitxsan "People of the River Mist" The Gitxsan “People of the River Mist” have presided over their 33,000km sq. lax yip (traditional lands) in Northwestern British Columbia since time immemorial, stewarding the land and its resources through a matrilineal land based tenure system in accordance with Ayookim Gitxsan (Gitxsan laws). Each clan consists of a series of independent Houses (Wilp), each with their own High Chief, and traditional territories and fishing sites. Most live in five Gitxsan villages (Gitwangak, Gitsegukla, Gitanmaax, Sik-e-dah, Kispiox) and two provincial municipalities (Hazelton, New Hazelton). All rights reserved. (See also ​Indigenous Territory​.) There are approximately 13,000 members of the Gitxsan nation worldwide, with about 70% living on the traditional territories. Some Gitxsan territories are shared with or overlapped by neighbouring ​First Nations​, including Carrier Sekani, Gitanyow, Nisga’a, Tahltan, Tsay Keh Dene, Tsimshian and Wet’suwet’en. Occupation by the ancestors of the Gitxsan is estimated to predate those findings by thousands of years. lax yip (traditional lands) in Northwestern British Columbia since time immemorial, stewarding the land and its resources through a matrilineal land based tenure system in accordance with Ayookim Gitxsan (Gitxsan laws). In 1984, to seek recognition of, and to assert its ownership over its traditional territories, the Gitxsan took legal action. . © 2020 Gitxsan Development Corporation. After the ruling, resource extraction and development continued unabated in Gitxsan territories and the Gitxsan people remained largely shut out of these mainstream economic sectors.