Geography:
The Tsimshian Nation enjoyed the traditional territory of over 13,000 mi2 (over 3.4 million hectares) including the Nass and Skeena Rivers from the present coastal town of Prince Rupert, British Columbia and inland about 300km occupying 1/3 of the coast of British Columbia including the rivers and offshore marine areas.
People:
The Tsimshian people are identified in any of the following tribes, namely the Gidzalaal, Ginaxangiik, Gisp’axlo’ots, Gitandoyks, Gitlan, Gilutsau, Gitwilgyots, Git’andoo, Git’tsiis, Gitga’ata, Gitxaa³a, Gitasoo, Gitsalasuu and Gitsumgel’m, and any other group identified from time to time by the Tsimshian Ayaawx (Tsimshian law) and have occupied their territory for over 10,000 years. Before that time they lived in the areas now under water in Hecate Strait, Dixon Entrance and Queen Charlotte Sound before the great flood.
The resources were highly abundant and the communities did more than survive, they were wealthy because of the abundance of resources. The Tsimshian Nation has never surrendered, relinquished, extinguished or conveyed interests, rights, and/or title to any of the assets, land, surface and subsurface resources, all natural resources including ecosystem services, the right to govern themselves, or the rights and privileges to practice the Tsimshian traditions and culture in our vast and extensive traditional territory. The interests, rights, title and privileges of the Tsimshian Nation are reserved by the Sm’gigyet collective according to Tsimshian law.
The Tsimshian Nation in Canada consists of 7,500 ‘registered’ members by the federal government of Canada standards for Status Indian. Another 3,000 are ‘registered’ by the US federal government in the community of Metlakatla, Alaska and other areas. The Tsimshian Nation estimates there may be as many as 45,000 people of Tsimshian ancestry. The federal governments of Canada and the US have legislated oppressive and assimilative polices that have forced many Tsimshian people away from the traditional territory.
The Tsimshian people speak Sm’algyax language and practice the traditions of the Tsimshian culture that is associated with the land, water, air, natural resources and people. The Tsimshian society is complex and unique in structure and function. It is a matrilineal society with cultural identity transmitted through maternal ancestry.
Organizations:
The Tsimshian are represented within UNPO by the Tsimshian Nation Gitlaxyuup-m and Smgigyet Society (operational organization owned by the Tsimshian Hereditary Chiefs; English translation: People of the land and Hereditary Chiefs Society)
Statistics:
Territory: 13.000 miles2
Population: 10.000
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