LIKE THE ONES BEFORE US
Hoyag̱ada naa in nag̱oog̱m
Salmon preservation is rooted deeply in the history of the Metlakatla Indian Community and that of our Ts’msyen ancestors.
100+ years of processing has led to new opportunities for all to enjoy wild salmon from our waters.
Our Journey to Annette Island Reserve
Metlakatla, Alaska was founded in 1887 during a chaotic colonial shift on the Northwest Coast by Ts’msyen (Tsimshian) people and their missionary, along with Tlingit and Haida people that joined us.
Our ancestors had moved a mere 65 miles from what is now British Columbia seeking religious and political freedom in the new territory of Alaska.
Our Language and Culture
Our beautiful, endangered heritage language is called Sm’algya̱x, which translates to “real talk” or “true language”. It spoken fluently by less than 60 people in the entire world and we are hard at work to revitalize it.
Ts’msyen means “People inside the Skeena River”, which is where our language and cultural identity comes from. Like our tribal neighbors on the Northwest Coast, we are people of the cedar and the salmon.
We are a matrilineal society, inheriting our identities and crests from our mothers’ sides. All of our people belong to one of four matrilineal groups that we call clans each represented by a primary crest: Gisbutwada (Killer Whale Clan), G̱anhada (Raven Clan), Laxsgyiik (Eagle Clan), or Laxgyibuum (Wolf Clan).
Keeping it Alive and Well
We are among those who made totem poles and traveled in great ocean going canoes. And though colonization interrupted our way of life for time, we once again potlatch or feast, which are our traditional ceremonies where names are passed on, where stories of our ancestors are remembered and our crests and rights are displayed.
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