Overview of Tsm’syen tribes
Creating an Overview of Ts’msyen Tribes
The Ts’msyen (often written Tsimshian) are a group of closely related Indigenous peoples whose territories extend along the lower Skeena River, coastal inlets, and nearby islands of the northern Pacific coast.
Ts’msyen peoples are bound together by:
- a shared legal order (*ayaawx*)
- true histories (*adaawx*) carried by houses (*wilp*)
- crest-based authority and obligation
- feast governance as public law
- Sm’algyax language roots, with dialectal variation
Each Ts’msyen tribe and community governs itself while remaining connected through law, kinship, and shared history.
Present-day Ts’msyen and Related Coastal Nations
Gitga’at
Gitga’at (Tsimshian: Gitḵ'a'ata, lit. “People of the Cane”) are represented today by the Gitga’at First Nation.
Their community is Hartley Bay (Txałgiu / Txałgiiw), British Columbia.
Gitxaała
Gitxaała (Tsimshian: Gitxaała, lit. “people of the open sea”, also Git Lax M’oon, “people of the salt water”) are represented by the Gitxaala Nation.
They live in the village of Kitkatla (La̱x Klan), British Columbia.
Kitsumkalum
Kitsumkalum (Tsimshian: Gitsumkalum, lit. “people of the plateau”) are represented by the Kitsumkalum First Nation.
Their community is located near Terrace, British Columbia.
Kitselas
Kitselas (Tsimshian: Gitselasu, lit. “people of the Canyon”) are represented by the Kitselas First Nation.
Their community is located near Terrace, British Columbia.
Metlakatla (British Columbia)
Metlakatla (British Columbia) developed through a distinct historical process shaped by missionization.
Despite this history, Ts’msyen identity continues through houses, crests, clans, and feast governance.
Metlakatla (Alaska)
Metlakatla, Alaska was established following relocation from British Columbia.
It is the most recent Ts’msyen community and includes lineages from all Ts’msyen peoples, maintaining continuity of houses, crests, and feast practices across an international boundary.
Lax Kw’alaams (Port Simpson)
Lax Kw’alaams, historically known as Port Simpson, is a major coastal Ts’msyen community and long-standing gathering place.
It is characterized by:
- strong feast governance
- extensive adaawx held by many houses
- marine and coastal territorial authority
- historical regional leadership and intertribal gathering
Kitasoo / Xai’xais (Klemtu)
Kitasoo (Tsimshian: Gitasts'uu, lit. “(People of) a large, tiered house-depression”), together with the Xai’xais, a Heiltsuk group from Kynoch Inlet, form the Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation.
Their community is Klemtu (Klemdulxk / Xłmduulxk), British Columbia.
While Kitasoo/Xai’xais is a distinct Nation, long-standing relationships with Ts’msyen peoples exist through travel, trade, intermarriage, and shared maritime law.
The Nine Ts’msyen Peoples (Historical Reference)
Ts’msyen oral tradition and early historical records describe **nine Ts’msyen peoples**.
At the time Indian Agents assigned reserve communities, some Chiefs of these nine peoples were located at Fort Simpson (later Lax Kw’alaams / Port Simpson).
They are commonly listed as:
- Giluts'aaw
- Ginadoiks
- Ginaxangiik
- Gispaxlo'ots
- Gitando
- Gitlaan
- Gits'iis
- Gitwilgyoots
- Gitzaxłaał
Other Chiefs were located at the mission-created community of Metlakatla, with some later migrating to Metlakatla, Alaska.
This historical gathering reflects coexistence under shared law rather than centralized authority.
Clans
Ts’msyen society is organized through four major clans:
- Gispwudwada — Killer Whale Clan
- Ganhada — Raven Clan
- Laxgibuu — Wolf Clan
- Laxsgiik — Eagle Clan
Clans extend across tribes and communities and are central to crest authority, marriage law, and feast governance.
Continuity
Ts’msyen law, identity, and governance continue through:
- houses (*wilp*)
- crests and names
- clans
- feast witnessing
- intergenerational teaching
Modern political boundaries do not replace these foundations.