Kitsumkalum remains an important part of the Tsimshian Nation and continues to maintain a strong connection to the Kitsumkalum Valley, Skeena River and Coast through our past and presence in our laxyuup (lands), and our heavy reliance on the resources in the areas.
Kitsumkalum Way of Life in Pictures

Kitsumkalum Members at Lax Spa Suunt (Arthur Island)
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…

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

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

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

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

Kitsumkalum Net Mending Classes 2016
Yagwat luupga na aadmüüxt. He is mending his coho salmon net.

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

Port Essington From the Skeena River
Image h-07308 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

T’iibn (Sea lion) in the Skeena River
Sea lions in the Skeena River in Ha’lila̱x six’ẅa̱h (March) -photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

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

ła̱’a̱sk (seaweed)
“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…

Ts’mhoon (Red Cod/ Red Snapper)
Na kwtuun looba wil kyen ts’mhoon. There are red snappers around the rock.

Xsgyiik (Eagle)
Hoon ga̱ba xsgyiik. Fish is what eagles eat. -Photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

Ts’ik’aws (Salmon split open and smoked)
‘Yaayg̱a hanaa’na̱g̱a ts’ik’awsm st’mhoon a gyelx. The women hung the split humpback salmon outside. -Photo courtesy of Mildred E. Roberts

Kitsumkalum House Pole at Lakelse Lake
Image No. 70457 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

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

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

Kitsumkalum Sm’ooygit & Sigyidm hanaa’na̱x
Gwishalaayda hoy sm’ooygit. (Chiefs wear regalia.) -Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

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

Da̱hdee (Bog Cranberries)
Heelda da̱hdee da ḵ’alagyilhawli. There are many cranberries upriver in the bush.

‘yaans (Sea prunes/ Chitons)
Kitsumkalum members’ annual food harvest. -Photo courtesy of Don Roberts

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

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

Hanig̱oox (Oolichan second run) and Xsgyiik (Eagle)
Hanig̱oox ga̱ba xsgyiik. Oolichan is what eagles eat. -Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

Kitsumkalum Cooks
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…

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

Sigyidm hana̱’a̱ (Matriarchs) 1930s in Spa Xksuutk
-Photo from the library of Don Roberts Sr.

Looking at Spa Xksuutks (Port Essington)
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…

ła̱’a̱sk (seaweed)
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
Minnows in the Skeena River
Kitsumkalum Fish & Wildlife present: Minnows in the Skeena River

Mati (Mountain Goat) – Annual Food Harvest
Hukkwdega ‘yuuta gwii. That man is a good hunter. -Photo courtesy of Lisa Wesley

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

Kitsumkalum Sigyidm hana̱’a̱ (Matriarch; an Honoured Woman)
Sigyidmhana’a doni. The woman over there is a matriarch. Photo of Mildred Roberts, Kitsumkalum sigyidm hana̱’a̱. -Photo courtesy of Cynthia Bohn

2010 Olympic Torch Relay – Torches
‘Wiileeksa duula̱ la̱k. (The flames are big.) – Olympic Torch Relay Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

Ha’li’la̱x siła̱’a̱sk (May – Seaweed Month)
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…

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

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

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

‘Yaans – Sea Prunes (chiton)
Ł’way’il nadzem ‘yaansu. Stir my boiled chitons. -Photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

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

Spa Xksuutks – June 1953
-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Social History & Research Department

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

Sihoon (Smoked Salmon)
Aam dzi sihoonm dziła suunt. I hope we get fish this summer. – photo courtesy of Troy Sam

Gwa̱łwoo (Go out Hunting) Joseph Roberts & Victoria Roberts – Beaver hunting
-Photo courtesy of Mildred Roberts

łnawsm hoon (Canned Salmon)
Heelda xłnawsm hoon da k’oy. I have lots of canned fish. -Photo courtesy of Lisa Wesley

Jemima, Cissy, Tootsie, Harriet, Joe, Emma
-Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Social History & Research Department

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

Ma̱ḵ’ooxs (Salmonberries)
Yagwa dm si ma̱ḵ’ooxsu. I am going to pick salmonberries. -Photo courtesy of Jeanette Spalding

Dza̱’wes (Laughing berries; Salal berries)
Luk’wil ts’imaatga dzaam dza’wes. Salal berry jam is very good. -Photo courtesy of Cynthia Bohn

Kitsumkalum Lake is in Kitsumkalum Laxyuup (Lands/ Territory)
Kalum Lake is in Kitsumkalum Laxyuup (Lands/ Territory)

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

T’u’utsgm ol (Black Bear)
Di ga̱banii kba ol? Do you eat bear grease? -Photo courtesy of Rob Gerow

T’iibn (Sea Lion) in the Skeena
‘Liiheelda t’iibn da la̱x loop. There’s a lot of sea lions on the rock. -Photo courtesy of Heather Bohn

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

Sigidmna’ax & Smgigyet (Matriarch/ Honoured Women & Chiefs)
Mansm’ooygit int liiła g̱alts’ap. The leading chief looks after the whole village. -Photo courtesy of Kitsumkalum Treaty Office

Smoked ha’limootk (oolichan)
March in Sm’algyax is Ha’lilaxsi’wah which means Oolichan Month -Photo courtesy of Susan Spalding

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