TSIMSHIAN INDIANS IN ALASKA

THESE ARE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN B C AND ALASKA, NEAR TERRACE AND PRINCE RUPPERT. THERE NAME TRANSLATES TO INSIDE "THE SKEMNA RIVER". THERE ARE ABOUT 10,000 TSIMSHIAN. THERE CULTURE IS MATRILOCAL AND IS BASED ON A LINGUISTIC SIMILARITIES. SOME WERE NOT COASTAL OTHERS WERE ON RIVERS. IN 1860 SMALLPOX WIPED OUT 80% OF THE POPULATION IN THREE YEARS.

IN 1880 WILLIAM DUNCAN, A MISSIONARY, MET THEM LIVING ON ANNETTE ISLAND. HE LATER REQUESTED THAT THEY GAIN RESERVATION STATUS. IT WAS APPROVED AS THE ONLY RESERVATION IN THE STATE. BRITISH COLUMBIA TREATY PROCESS PURSUED NEGOTIATIONS WITH TSIMSHIAN UNTIL LATE 2005. THEY ARE SHAREHOLDERS OF SEALASKAN CORPORATION. THEY ARE SHARE HOLDERS OF THE SEA ALASKAN CORPORATION. THIS IS THE ONLY LOCATION ALLOWED TO MAINTAIN FISH TRAPS. THIS CULTURE LIKE ALL THE NORTHWEST PEOPLE THRIVE ON ABUNDANT SEA LIFE.

THEY LIVE IN LARGE CEDAR PLANK LONGHOUSES WITH POSTS AND PANELS. THEY HOUSED AN EXTENDED FAMILY. AFTER CHILDBIRTH CERTAIN FOODS WERE EXCLUDED. MARRIAGE WAS VERY FORMAL. THEIR RELIGION CENTERED AROUND THE LORD OF HEAVEN - AIDING PEOPLE BY SENDING SUPERNATURAL SERVANTS LORD OF HEAVEN , AIDING PEOPLE BY SENDING SUPERNATURAL SERVANTS TO EARTH TO AID THEM. THEY BELIEVE IN FASTING. THEY ENGAGE IN THE POTLATCH - IT HONORS DEATHS, BURIALS AND SUCCESSION TO NAMES.

THEY LIVED FROM THEIR ART, CULTURE AND LANGUAGE. THEY USE WESTERN CEDAR FOR MOST OF THEIR GOODS. THE BARK WAS CARVED INTO TOOLS, CLOTH, ROOFS, ARMOR AND CANOE SKIN. THEY USED IT FOR CHILKAT WEAVING - THEY INVENTED IT. THEY WERE FREQUENTLY RAIDED BY THE HAIDA. THEY HAD 14 TRIBES IN CANADA. THEY HAD FOUR CLANS. ONLY IN 1983 DID THEY NEGOTIATE A TREATY WITH THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN VILLAGES AND FISHING SITES. IN 1983 THE TISHIMAN TRIBAL COUNCIL NEGOTIATED TO UNITE THEY 14 BANDS. THEY SPEAK TSINISHANIC OR COAST TSINSHAN. THEY HAVE 300 SPEAKERS IN ALASKA AND 3000 IN CANADA. FRANZ BOAS AND OTHER PROMINENT ANTHROPOLOGISTS WORKED WITH THE TSUNSHIAN.

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