Kitselas First Nation

The Kitselas First Nation has four clans: Gispudwada (Killerwhale), Laxgiboo (Wolf), Laxsgiik (Eagle), and Ganhada (Raven).

[6] In 1864, Douglas was replaced by Joseph Trutch who reduced the size of reservations and created policies that were meant to discriminate against Indians.

In 1872, the British took control of the Skeena River from the Kitselas, so they could no longer charge for people to enter the canyon.

[6] In 1904, the Homestead Act claimed that anybody except natives and Chinese could have 160 acres of land anywhere along the Skeena River for free.

[6] In 1931, Tsimshian and Haida formed the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia where they discussed their grievances and this group still exists today.

[7] In 1946, the flu epidemic killed many Kitselas political leaders and the fight for their rights did not start again until the 1980s.

In 1984, Tsimshian Tribal Council was formed of 7 bands in the Northwest and together they would fight for the rights and lands that they had taken away from them by the British.

[9] The problem with the AIP is that it is not legally binding and thus the Kitselas people have been negotiating and working hard on the final draft.

[13] The KDC played a role in developing Kitselas Forestry Products and Wai Wah Environmental.

The Kitselas First Nation has a community hall on the Kulspai Reserve and it is available for rent for large events.

[14] Download coordinates as: The traditional land of the Kitselas encompasses British Columbia's Northern coast of the Pacific Ocean to Skeena Valley.

The Kulspai reserve was traditionally used as a place for canoes to be beached for people who were moving south to Lakelse Lake.