Kitsumkalum Way of Life in Pictures

Lax Spa Suunt (Arthur Island). The Sm’algyax name is often translated as “Place of Summer” but literately the translation is “On the home of summer” (lax = on; spa = home, place of, den of; suunt= summer) – Photo courtesy of Cynthia Bohn

Yaan, gyiloo baan. Walk, don’t run. – Seals in the Skeena River in Ha’lila̱x six’ẅa̱h (March) -photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

Lu’yaag̱a hoon da wa̱p sip’iyaansk. The fish are hanging in the smokehouse. – Photo courtesy of Christina Sam Stanley

Port Essington Indian Village – Image e-01336 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Many Kitsumkalum members attended the Methodist-run Port Essington Indian Day School. – Image b-05843 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Mełiitga ‘yens. (The leaves are green.)

Lax’aws (sandy beach)

Image A-04170 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Yagwat luupga na aadmüüxt. He is mending his coho salmon net.

Ga̱ba t’u’utsgm ol hoon da ḵ’a̱la̱ ‘aks. Black bears eat fish from the river.

Image h-07308 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Sea lions in the Skeena River in Ha’lila̱x six’ẅa̱h (March) -photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

Dm dza̱g̱a̱ yaa’nu da ‘nadoosda. I am going to walk across to the other side.

“Lax Spa Suunt  serves as a major food resource site for fish eggs beginning in the spring, clams in January and February, as well as, seaweed and halibut.” – Kitsumkalum Declaration

Na kwtuun looba wil kyen ts’mhoon. There are red snappers around the rock.

Hoon ga̱ba xsgyiik. Fish is what eagles eat. -Photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

‘Yaayg̱a hanaa’na̱g̱a ts’ik’awsm st’mhoon a gyelx. The women hung the split humpback salmon outside. -Photo courtesy of Mildred E. Roberts

-Photo courtesy of Jeanette Spalding

Image No. 70457 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Kitsumkalum regalia workshop 2016

Beaver Flats in Kitsumkalum Laxyuup

‘Wi ama̱p’a̱sm hana’ax (Sleeping Beauty Mountain) in Kitsumkalum laxyuup (lands), near Terrace BC. -Photo courtesy of Jeanette Spalding

Yagwn si’ił sgu’untn. I’m trying to teach you.

Luk’wil mmii xs’waanx. The herring eggs are thick.

‘Na Aksa Gyilak’yoo School at Hobiiyee 2017

Yel ‘as dm ga̱bm dziła ła̱xłeexgm. We’re going to eat whipped soapberries when we finish eating.

Gwishalaayda hoy sm’ooygit. (Chiefs wear regalia.) -Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

Akandi wilaay goo na haw gyet a sgyedmḵ’a̱lmoos. I don’t know what people mean by spidercrab.

Heelda da̱hdee da ḵ’alagyilhawli. There are many cranberries upriver in the bush.

Kitsumkalum members’ annual food harvest. -Photo courtesy of Don Roberts

Likleeksa nts’aaẅ łaaya. The seeds inside highbush cranberries are big. -photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

Nah heelda ‘ẅa̱h da Ḵ’alaksyen. There was a lot of oolichan up the Skeena river.

Hanig̱oox ga̱ba xsgyiik. Oolichan is what eagles eat. -Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

Photo of Cooks being recognized at a community feast. Having cooks in the kitchen that know how to cook our traditional foods and for large crowds of 200+ is integral to any community event, feeding guests, witnesses and the sharing food/ wealth is part of the Tsimshian way of life

Mangyigyet (Elders) in Kitsumkalum Hall for a Christmas Elders lunch with Kitselas, Haisla and Kitsumkalum.

Heelda ‘nooł hoy Ts’msyen. Tsimshian people use a lot of drums.

-Photo from the library of Don Roberts Sr.

Kitsumkalum people rely heavily on the coastal areas near Port Essington. The location was used traditionally as a residence for autumn economic activities. This fall residence is one of the seasonal settlements Kitsumkalum has maintained as part of the annual cycle. -Photo courtesy of Rob Georw

-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

-Photo courtesy of Don Roberts

You won’t hear this Kitsumkalum band member saying this phrase “Ła t’maaysa k’ooł aka siła̱’a̱sgi. I haven’t picked seaweed for many years”. -Photo courtesy of ‘Na Aksa Gyilak’yoo School

-Photo courtesy of Don Roberts

-Photo courtesy of Don Roberts

-Photo courtesy of Don Roberts

-Photo courtesy of ‘Na Aksa Gyilak’yoo

Hukkwdega ‘yuuta gwii. That man is a good hunter. -Photo courtesy of Lisa Wesley

Yagwa sits’a̱’a̱g̱m. We’re digging clams. Kitsumkalum community members harvesting clams. -Photo courtesy of Kathy Wesley

Sigyidmhana’a doni. The woman over there is a matriarch. Photo of Mildred Roberts, Kitsumkalum sigyidm hana̱’a̱. -Photo courtesy of Cynthia Bohn

Smxsoo (Canoe). Kitsumkalum youth canoeing

Kitsumkalum Olympic Torch Relay Runner

‘Wiileeksa duula̱ la̱k. (The flames are big.) – Olympic Torch Relay Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

Ha’lila̱x siła̱’a̱sk, May dm wil g̱asihat’aldm, dzida ła g̱awdi dzi g̱asiła’asgm. We’ll get cedar bark strips in May, when we’re through picking seaweed. Kitsumkalum harvesting seaweed. -Photo courtesy of Don Roberts

-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

Mildred Roberts, Victoria Roberts, and children in Spa Xksuutks (Port Essington) -Photo courtesy of Mildred Roberts

Heelda ḵ’a̱lmoos da sg̱asüü Ksyen. There are a lot of crabs at the mouth of the Skeena. -Photo courtesy of Susan Spalding

-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

Ha’lisuwiliinsk – The time for trapping (January) -Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

Ł’way’il nadzem ‘yaansu. Stir my boiled chitons. -Photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

Ha’lilaxsis’waanax – The time for getting herring roe (April) -Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Social History & Research Department

Rebecca Bolton – Ganhada Waap Niskiimas Giluts’aaw -Photo courtesy of Mildred Roberts

Charles Nelson – Ganhada Waap Xpilaxha Gitsm’geelm

Aam dzi sihoonm dziła suunt. I hope we get fish this summer. – photo courtesy of Troy Sam

-Photo courtesy of Mildred Roberts

-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

Heelda xłnawsm hoon da k’oy. I have lots of canned fish. -Photo courtesy of Lisa Wesley

-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Social History & Research Department

Lu’yaag̱a hoon da wa̱p sip’iyaansk. The fish are hanging in the smokehouse.

Yagwa dm si ma̱ḵ’ooxsu. I am going to pick salmonberries. -Photo courtesy of Jeanette Spalding

Luk’wil ts’imaatga dzaam dza’wes. Salal berry jam is very good. -Photo courtesy of Cynthia Bohn

Kalum Lake is in Kitsumkalum Laxyuup (Lands/ Territory)

Mooksga ndi sami liitsk. Grouse meat is white. -Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

Di ga̱banii kba ol? Do you eat bear grease? -Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

‘Liiheelda t’iibn da la̱x loop. There’s a lot of sea lions on the rock. -Photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

Dm hooym gwis’nap’ala dziła luulgit. We will wear button blankets when there’s a feast.

Mansm’ooygit int liiła g̱alts’ap. The leading chief looks after the whole village. -Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

Txas gyiyaaksa dm yaakm. We’ll go on the open water.

March in Sm’algyax is Ha’lilaxsi’wah which means Oolichan Month -Photo courtesy of Susan Spalding

Gyisi aw’awulksga daaw da Ksyen. Ice is floating down the Skeena. -Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

Heelda ‘nooł hoy Ts’msyen. Tsimshian people use a lot of drums.