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.

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.

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).

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.”

Kitselas Organizations and Resources
Online Resources
- People of the Grizzly-Government by the People
Kitselas Treaty
- People of the Grizzly: Clean Slate
Kitselas Treaty
- Northwest Coast Village Project - Gitselasu (Kitselas)
Simon Fraser University - The Bill Reid Centre
- Kitselas Canyon National Historic Site of Canada
Canada’s Historic Places
- Kitselas Canyon 1
Simon Fraser University - The Bill Reid Centre and Dr. George F. MacDonald
- Kitselas Canyon 2
Simon Fraser University - The Bill Reid Centre and Dr. George F. MacDonald
- The Main Petroglyph on Ringbolt Island
Simon Fraser University - The Bill Reid Centre
- Kitselas Nation
North Coast Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society