Names Connected to Land and Resources
Names Connected to Land and Resources
INITIATION DRAFT — This page outlines foundational ideas about Tsm’syen names tied to land, waters, harvesting areas, resource rights, and ancestral places. It is not authoritative and will be refined by knowledge holders, fluent speakers, and future scholars.
Tsm’syen names are not only personal identifiers. Many are geographic titles linked to:
- rivers,
- mountains,
- inlets,
- canyons,
- fishing grounds,
- oolichan sites,
- berry patches,
- clam beds,
- and places of ancestral events.
A person holding such a name becomes responsible for the land the name refers to.
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Names as Geographic Authority
Some names carry authority over:
- a section of river,
- a fishing hole,
- a trail,
- a portage,
- ancestral village sites,
- campsites or harvesting areas.
These names are markers of:
- who speaks for that area,
- who carries its history,
- and who holds responsibility for its care.
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Names Marking Resource Stewardship
Certain names are tied to resource rights, including:
- salmon harvesting,
- oolichan processing,
- seaweed and kelp gathering,
- berry patches,
- hunting territories,
- clam or cockle beds,
- cedar stands.
Holding such a name means:
- knowing the proper seasons,
- upholding conservation practices,
- teaching younger relatives the protocols,
- preventing misuse by outsiders,
- and ensuring abundance for future generations.
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Names Remembering Ancestral Events on the Land
Many names refer to:
- trails used during migrations,
- places where ancestors survived hardship,
- victories or losses recorded in adaawx,
- geological features tied to transformation stories,
- sites where rights were established,
- the origins of crest rights.
These names carry historical authority and moral lessons. A name holder must learn the underlying adaawx to represent the place correctly.
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Speaking for the Land
A person with a land-connected name may be called to:
- speak during feasts about land issues,
- assert House rights in disputed areas,
- correct misinformation,
- guide youth to their ancestral places,
- explain environmental responsibilities,
- act as a witness in territorial matters.
Their words carry weight because the name ties them to that specific area.
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Responsibility Over Recognition
A land-connected name is not a status symbol. It is a responsibility. This includes:
- maintaining respectful use of the land,
- preventing waste and overharvesting,
- monitoring changes to rivers, shorelines, and forests,
- protecting burial grounds and old village sites,
- ensuring safe passage for others.
If the name is carried improperly, the House loses authority in practice, even if not in theory.
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Teaching the Next Generation Their Places
A name holder must ensure that future heirs:
- know the land the name refers to,
- visit and learn at those locations,
- understand the stories connected to each place,
- learn harvesting techniques correctly,
- respect neighbouring Houses’ rights,
- maintain humility when speaking for land.
Knowledge cannot remain in one generation; it must be handed down.
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When Names Are Used in Land Disputes
A name tied to a place may be invoked during:
- boundary disagreements,
- harvesting conflicts,
- external challenges fr*