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The term Tsimshian (Tsim-she-yan, meaning "People of the Skeena") is often broadly applied to all those northern BC Indian groups speaking languages of the Tsimshian language family: NISHGA (or Nisga'a), GITKSAN and the Coast Tsimshian. The latter, sometimes referred to as the Tsimshian Proper, included groups along the lower Skeena River from the Kitselas Canyon and Kitsumkalum (near Terrace) and the adjacent coast south to Milbanke Sound, including Port Simpson, Metlakatla (in the Prince Rupert area), Kitkatla, Hartley Bay and Kitasu. The population of this latter group is 6569 (1996c).
In 1887, a group of 825 Tsimshians following missionary William Duncan moved to a site near Ketchikan, Alaska, where they founded the settlement of New Metlakatla. Archaeological excavations in the harbour at Prince Rupert have unearthed the remains of cedar plankhouse villages that date back 5000 years; thus, the Tsimshians claim one of the oldest continuous cultural heritages in the New World. Tsimshian groups are also generally held to be related historically to the Penutian peoples of Oregon and California.
 Flying Frog HeadpieceFlying Frog Headpiece, wood, Tsimshian carving, mid-19th century (courtesy NMC).
 FrontletWood and abalone frontlet, BC, Tsimshian (courtesy Provincial Museum of BC).
 MaskWood mask, Metlakatla village, BC, Tsimshian (courtesy Provincial Museum of BC).
 Shaman's Charm (Tsimshian)Shaman's charm, bone, Nass River, BC, Tsimshian (courtesy Provincial Museum of BC).
Social and Cultural Patterns
Like their neighbours, the Tlingit of Alaska and the Haida of the Queen Charlotte Islands, the Tsimshian represent the Northwest Coast cultural area, characterized by TOTEM POLES and POTLATCH feasts at which wealth is distributed. Although aboriginal culture patterns are being replaced, these people take pride in their heritage and many families still fulfil traditional obligations by hosting community ceremonial feasts to punctuate name-giving, marriage, divorce, adoption and funerals. Originally, descent was reckoned through the female line and each Tsimshian still recognizes him/herself as belonging to one of 4 phratries (tribes or totems: Frog or Raven, Wolf, Eagle, and Killer whale or Fireweed). One belongs to the same phratry as one's mother and marries someone (in aboriginal times, the preferred mate was a cousin) from a different phratry than one's own. Hereditary chiefly titles are still maintained by both men and women for ceremonial purposes. Although few trap for a living these days, fishing remains an important subsistence activity.
Author
J.V. POWELL
Links to Other Sites
Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples
The website for the "Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples." Click on the links for feature articles about Canada's many multicultural communities, access to their extensive digital archives collection, learning modules, and much more. From "Multicultural Canada."
Languages of Canada
A comprehensive online database of languages currently in use in Canada. Also provides details about extinct languages. Check out the "language maps" for more information. Based on "Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition." From SIL International, a US website.
Love and Lonesome Songs of the Skeena River
An article about the role of traditional love songs created and sung by the Tsimshian people of British Columbia. From the "Canadian Journal for Traditional Music."
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