| Tsimshian
Society and Culture Language The Tsimshian language family is divided into
four dialect groups: Northern Tsimshian (spoken along the lower Skeena River
and the coast as far as Alaska); Southern Tsimshian (south of the Skeena
River, on the coast); Gitksan (upper Skeena River); and Nisga'a (Nass River).
Tribes At the moment of contact with Europeans, there were ten tribes living
in the Prince Rupert Harbour and Kitselas Canyon. They all originated on
the north coast of British Columbia or in Alaska and followed a series of
migrations that led them to the Prince Rupert Harbour and the surrounding
territories, which they shared. |