Kitselas Nation

Terrace

The Kitselas Nation (or Gitselasu), meaning “People of The Canyon," have a territory that is comprised of the lands surrounding Kitselas Canyon.

Kitselas Totem Poles. Photo by Meaghan Hume

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The Kitselas Nation’s main community is located in Terrace on BC’s North Coast

Kitselas Nation

The Kitselas Nation is a member of the Tsimshian group of nations.

Archaeological and ethnographic evidence suggests people have lived in the Kitselas Canyon area for over 5000 years, a location that provided food, transportation and the opportunity to trade with other Nations.

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There are five known traditional village sites, many of which were abandoned due to smallpox epidemics. Today the Kitselas Nation has its two main communities in the villages of Gitaus (Git’aws) and Kulspai (Gn spa).

Kitselas Canyon – National Historic Site Area. Courtesy of Kitselas Nation

Archeological surveys suggest that the Kitselas Canyon site is a heritage site of national importance. There are a number of important petroglyphs on Dry Island and Ringbolt Island, the largest of which is 2.1m x 1.8m. One notable glyph “represents two human figures shown in frontal view and at least two animal figures in profile. Both of these human figures are wearing headdresses that may indicate shamanic activity.”

The Main Petroglyph on Ringbolt Island. Photo courtesy of The Bill Reid Centre - SFU — The Main Petroglyph on Ringbolt Island. Photo courtesy of The Bill Reid Centre at SFU Digitized Collections

Kitselas Nation Projects

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

First Nation	Applicant	Project	Description	Links	Type	Year	Funding
Kitselas Nation	Kitselas Band Council	Tsmdimaas Forest Restoration and Workforce Development Project – 2017/18 Phase	To continue a multi-year conservation workforce development project at Tsmdimaas along the Skeena River that restores successively clear-cut traditional lands and will improve cedar and berry bush growing capability while also building transferable ecosystem restoration skills that will position the Nation to initiate future reclamation projects in northwestern BC		Conservation Fund	2017	$ 34,283
Kitselas Nation	Kitselas Band Council	Capital Improvements at Kitselas Canyon National Historic Site	To improve the revenue of the Kitselas Canyon National Historic Site by making infrastructure upgrades and aligning these upgrades with a new marketing initiative connected to Canada's 150th anniversary		Economic Development Fund	2017	$ 9,355
Kitselas Nation	Kitselas Band Council	Tsmdimaas Forest Restoration and Workforce Development Project	To undertake a conservation workforce development project at Tsmdimaas that builds transferable ecosystem restoration skills that will position the Nation to lead future reclamation projects that are anticipated as a result of increased natural resource development that is planned in northwest BC		Conservation Fund	2015	$ 41,665
Kitselas Nation	Kitselas Band Council	Community-Based Land Use Planning	To undertake a community-based process to develop a land use plan for seven reserves, a majority of which are rural and undeveloped with important conservation-related opportunities	Project Story	Conservation Fund	2010	$ 9,277
Kitselas Nation	Kitselas Band Council	Development of Kitselas Canyon National Historic Site	To complete construction of major infrastructure that directly enables cultural interpretive tours at this national historic site in partnership with Parks Canada		Economic Development Fund	2009	$ 226,089