Mythologies of the Haisla Tribe

 

The Haisla Nation is the Indian Act-mandated band government which nominally represents the Haisla people in the North Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, centred on the reserve community of Kitamaat Village. The traditional territory of the Haisla people is situated along the Douglas Channel Region of Kitimat on British Columbia’s north coast, and includes the Kitlope Valley which is rich in natural resources, especially salmon. 


The Haisla Nation is the band government of the Haisla people. Our mission is to build a powerful, prosperous and proud community, healthy in mind, body and spirit. We believe in building a strong and thriving community, with healthy and happy members and a sustained and prosperous environment. We are about 2023+ people, with approximately 700 living in Kitamaat Village. We have lived off the land and waters of our traditional territory for thousands of years, and it remains the focus of all we do. We believe that careful and appropriate economic development will bring our people necessary self-sufficiency. Sustainable and realistic economic opportunities are increasingly available, and promise benefits for our people – and for every British Columbian. We know that in order to attain strength and independence our Nation must work together – with government, business, the community, and internally – with a spirit of respect and partnership.

Haisla people (Xa’islak’ala, X̄a’islakʼala, X̌àʼislakʼala, X̣aʼislak’ala, or Xai:sla) are a First Nation who reside in Kitimaat. The Haisla consist of two bands: the Kitamaat people, residing in upper Douglas Channel and Devastation Channel, and the Kitlope People, inhabiting upper Princess Royal Channel and Gardner Canal in British ColumbiaCanadaThe Kitamaat people identify themselves as Haisla, meaning "dwellers downriver". The term Kitamaat originates from the Tsimshian people. In Tsimshian, Kitamaat signifies "people of the snow". The Haisla language is officially named X̄a’islak̓ala. Historically, the Haisla, along with their neighboring Wuikinuxv and Heiltsuk peoples, were mistakenly identified as the Northern Kwakiutl


The Haisla, meaning “dwellers downriver”, have occupied their traditional territory since time immemorial. Today, the Haisla people are centered on Kitamaat Village.  Home to approximately 700 of the 2023+ Haisla membership, Kitamaat Village sits at the head of the Douglas Channel in British Columbia. The balance of the Haisla live in places such as Kitimat, Terrace, Prince Rupert, in the metro Vancouver area and the United States. Today’s Haisla Nation is an amalgamation of two historic bands – the Kitamaat of the Douglas and Devastation channels and the Kitlope of the upper Princess Royal Channel and Gardner Canal. Neighbouring nations include the Heiltsuk and Wuikinuxv bands of the Coast Tsimshian peoples. Living and working on the water has always been important to the Haisla, and that remains so today. The Haisla people have lived off the land and water resources of the Douglas Channel and our traditional territory for hundreds of years, and protection of those resources for future generations is a strong commitment by every Haisla member.


The Haisla are a First Nation in Canada. The Haisla Nation is made up of two historic bands, the Kitamaat of upper Douglas Channel and Devastation Channel and the Kitlope of upper Princess Royal Channel and Gardner Canal in British Columbia. The Kitamaat call themselves Haisla ("dwellers downriver"); and the Kitlope, Henaaksiala ("dying off slowly"), a reference to their traditional longevity. The official designations Kitamaat ("people of the snow") and Kitlope ("people of the rocks") were adopted from the names used by the Tsimshian to refer to their Haisla neighbours. Haisla territory is in the northwest coast of British Columbia. Today, the Kitamaat Village ( see also Kitimat) at the head of the Douglas Channel is the Haisla’s home community. 



  • The Haisla, meaning “dwellers downriver,” have a rich culture and history and have occupied lands in Northwest BC for over 9,000 years.Kitimat is derived from Git-a-maat (Kitamaat), a Tsimshian description of the Haisla, which means “People of the Snow.” Prior to colonization, the Kitamaat band of the Douglas and Devastation channels inhabited the unceded territory that Kitimat is now situated on. Living and working on the land and water has always been fundamental to the Haisla way of life. They have lived off the land and water resources on their traditional territory for thousands of years, and are committed to the preservation of those resources for future generations. The Haisla Nation Council has shown support for respectful, equitable, and sustainable development on their traditional territory. They have welcomed the LNG industry onto their territory by supporting LNG Canada, the proposed Kitimat LNG project, and through the development of their own proposed Cedar LNG project.  Throughout the process of LNG speculation and development, the Haisla have remained committed to protecting the environment, preserving the area’s natural assets, and expanding opportunities for their members.


The Haisla tribe has been living in the North Coast region of British Columbia for over 9,000 years. They were some of the last natives to interact with famous explorers who navigated the Western coast of North America. The Northeast Indian tribes had been interacting with Europeans for over two centuries before the Haisla developed a relationship with the newcomers. Today, the Haisla people are located in Kitamaat Village, otherwise known as Kitimat Village. Home to about half of the 1700 Haisla, Kitamaat Village sits at the head of the Douglas Channel in British Columbia, while most of the balance of people live elsewhere in the Greater Vancouver region.

Haisla Language
Haisla language samples and resources
Haisla Tribe Culture and History
Information and links about the Haisla Nation past and present
Haisla Indian Legends
Introduction to the mythology of the Haisla Indians
  Encyclopedia articles on the Haisla language
   Information about the Haisla language in Spanish
  Haisla Indian books


Haisla traditional territory is located along the Douglas Channel in Northwest BC, from north of Kitimat down through the Kitlope Heritage Conservancy or Huchsduwachsdu Nuyem Jees in the Haisla language. The Haisla have occupied their lands for over 9000 years and today the Haisla Nation is centred at Kitamaat Village at the head of the Douglas Channel. There are approximately 1700 Haisla members, half of which live in Kitamaat Village. The Haisla have been instrumental in helping us build our opportunities. Together we have developed a very successful forestry joint venture. A business focused not only on profits but also on the friendships we have formed and the sharing of their unparalleled knowledge regarding cultural and land sustainability. The Haisla have empowered us as a company and have been influential in helping us create employment and ancillary business opportunities for Haisla members.
“The Haisla, meaning “dwellers downriver”, have occupied lands for over 9000 years. Today, the Haisla people are centered on Kitamaat Village.  Home to about half of the 1700 Haisla, Kitamaat Village sits at the head of the Douglas Channel in British Columbia. The balance of the Haisla lives elsewhere in the region or in Greater Vancouver. Today’s Haisla Nation is an amalgamation of two historic bands – the Kitamaat of the Douglas and Devastation channels and the Kitlope of the upper Princess Royal Channel and Gardner Canal. Neighbouring nations include the Heiltsuk and Wuikinuxv bands of the Coast Tsimshian peoples. Living and working on the water has always been important to the Haisla, and that remains so today. The Haisla people have lived off the land and water resources of the Douglas Channel and our traditional territory for hundreds of years, and protection of those resources for future generations is a strong commitment by every Haisla member.


The Haisla Nation is the band government of the Haisla people in the North Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, centred on the reserve community of Kitamaat Village, which is near the similarly named town of Kitimat. The traditional territory of the Haisla Nation is situated along the Douglas Channel Region of Kitimat of British Columbia’s north coast and includes the Kitlope Valley which is rich in natural resources, especially salmon. The Haisla Nation includes two once-separate peoples, the Kitamaat and the Kitlope. The Kitlope, also spelled Gitlope, means "people of the rocks" or "people from the opening in the mountains" in the Tsimshian language and was the term used for them by the neighbouring Tsimshian people. They call themselves Henaksiala, while the Tsimshian meaning of the name for the Kitamaat group – whose name for themselves is Haisla – is "people of the snow".


The home community of the Haisla people is Kitamaat Village, located at the head of the Douglas Channel on British Columbia’s North Coast. Kitamaat Village is home to 700 of the 2023+ Haisla members, and is located 10 kilometres from Kitimat and 45 kilometres from the Terrace Airport. The word “Kitamaat” comes from the Tsimshian people, who originate from the Prince Rupert and Metlakatla areas. While “Kitamaat” means ‘people of the snow’ in Tsimshian, the Haisla name for Kitamaat Village is “Tsee-Motsa”, meaning Snag Beach. Our people have traditionally occupied and used just over 4 million acres of land and waterways. Starting in 1890, the Canadian Federal Government set aside 1640 acres for the Haisla as reserve land. Our territory is one of the wettest regions in B.C., making for forests thick with Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Red Cedar trees which tower over salmon berry, dogwood, and willows. Bears, wolves, deer, foxes, and wolverines are just some of the mammals that live in these forests and feed on our area’s rich biodiversity.

































































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