Gitxaala Nation

Kitkatla

The Gitxaala Nation is a member of the Tsimshian Nation group and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited Indigenous territories on British Columbia’s North Coast.

Gitxaala Nation. Photo courtesy of JFK Law Corporation.

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The Gitxaala Nation’s main community is located in Kitkatla, on BC’s North Coast

Gitxaala Nation

The main Gitxaala community is Kitkatla, located on Dolphin Island, next to Porcher Island in the Hecate Strait.

The Gitxaala speak the traditional Smal’gax language. In Smal’gax, the Gitxaala people refer to themselves as “Git Lax Moon” which means “People of the Salt Water.”

See Projects

Gitxaala Nation Projects

In partnership with Coast Funds, Gitxaala Nation has invested in:

First Nation	Applicant	Project	Description	Type	Year	Funding
Gitxaala Nation	Gitxaała Enterprises LP	Salt Water Bakery – 2022 Start-up	To invest in the start-up of a new community-owned and operated artisanal bakery business located in Prince Rupert; to acknowledge the Gitxaała people as the Git Lax M’oon, or the People of the Salt Water; and to create meaningful employment and professional development opportunities for Gitxaała members.	Economic Development Fund	2022	$ 357,000
Gitxaala Nation	Gitxaała Nation	Predevelopment for Gitxaała Community Fishery Enterprise	To complete pre-development work for the expansion of Gitxaala’s community fishery that will be supported by the Fisheries Reconciliation Agreement including hiring a new Fisheries Business Manager and designing and assessing a site for a new habour facility close to the village of Lach Klan; this work will assist in providing the foundation for more fishing employment opportunities to community members	Economic Development Fund	2020	$ 355,000
Gitxaala Nation	Gitxaała Nation	Gitxaała Fisheries and Marine Programs – 2020/21 Operations	To support operations and the expansion of the Gitxaała Fisheries and Marine Programs to hire a Forestry and Land Use Planner; update and harmonize the Gitxaała Land Use Plan; hire, train, and integrate three guardians; draft priority conservancy management plans for the Hecate Strait Sponge Reef Protected Area, Monckton Nii Luutiksm, and Gitxaała Nii Luutiksm; further refine the Marine Protected Area Strategy and participate in the Marine Protect Area Network for the Northern Bioshelf Region; and develop a Gitxaała Geographic Response Plan.	Conservation Fund	2020	$ 220,000
Gitxaala Nation	Gitxaała Nation	Gitxaała Fisheries and Marine Program – Monitoring Vessel and 2019-22 Operations	To invest in a state-of-the-art research and monitoring vessel that will enable Gitxaała Fisheries and Marine Program to conduct patrols across Gitxaała territory; undertake specific marine mammal (humpback, orca, sea lion) surveys; implement marine use plans; and improve safety for employees, Elders, and youth.	Conservation Fund	2019	$ 800,000