Knowledge

Wetʼsuwetʼen

Source 📝

147: 278: 48: 135: 212:, recounts that their ancestral village, Dizkle or Dzilke, once stood upstream from the Bulkley Canyon. This cluster of cedar houses on both sides of the river is said to have been abandoned because of an omen of impending disaster. The exact location of the village has been lost. The neighbouring 849:
On May 14, 2020, the governments of Canada and British Columbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en, in which the Canadian and B.C. governments "recognize that Wet’suwet’en rights and title are held by Wet’suwet’en houses under their system of
829:
band governments (Hagwilget and Witset First Nations) which contain the 13 hereditary chieftaincies. The Office is not a tribal council, nor a traditional governing body, but rather a non-profit society, directed by a Board of Directors, with the goal of being a central office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen
349:
In the traditional Wetʼsuwetʼen governance system, there are five clans, which are further subdivided into 13 house groups. Each house group is led by a single house chief, and also includes several sub-chiefs (also referred to as "wing chiefs"). Hereditary chief names (both house chiefs and
850:
governance". Following concerns by leaders of the band councils, the hereditary chiefs clarified that the Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen is not a governing body, and that the authority of the band councils under the MOU would not be diminished.
279: 698:
Bands merged to form the Omineca Band. In 1984, the Omineca Band divided into the Nee-Tahi-Buhn and Browman (or Broman) Lake Bands, the latter of which later became
294:) is spelled in numerous ways. Witsuwitʼen is the correct spelling in the writing system in general use. In non-technical publications, it is usually misspelled as 310:
due to the difficulty of distinguishing ejective from plain . Official spellings with <tʼs> are used in the names of the Wetʼsuwetʼen First Nation and the
843:
As of April 2020, the Board of Directors was composed of seven house chiefs (Naʼmoks, Knedebeas, Madeek, Samooh, Kloum Khun, Wah Tah Kʼeght, and Hagwilnegh).
1132: 365:
The house groups and house chiefs of each of the five clans, as well as the English names of the current house chiefs, can be found in the chart below.
350:
sub-chiefs) are usually passed on to a successor chosen by the incumbent name holder, more often than not through family lines. Clan membership is
1247: 866: 1305: 1383: 768:
Tribe. Nee-Tahi-Buhn is the Babine-Witsuwitʼen name for François Lake, and means "it fills at one end and empties at the other".
30:
This article is about the Wetʼsuwetʼen people. For the pipeline project crossing their territory and related controversy, see
991:"Wetʼsuwetʼen Hereditary Chiefs Set the Record Straight in Response to Province of BC's Divide and Conquer Sharp Dealings" 17: 1327: 285: 779: 311: 1358: 739: 718: 699: 1328:"Memorandum of Understanding Between Canada, British Columbia and Wetʼsuwetʼen As agreed on February 29, 2020" 860: 836: 728: 711: 1422: 722: 331: 1229: 814: 1089: 774:- also known as the Skin Tyee Indian Band, also spelled "Skin Tayi", located near François Lake, in the 818: 755: 217: 933: 175: 990: 871: 789: 721:- also known as Browman (or Broman) Lake, formerly as Browman Indian Lake Band, located outside of 31: 159: 771: 695: 677:
Group is affiliated with the Yex T'sa Wilk'us (Dark House) under the Gilseyhu (Big Frog) Clan.
220:
area have a similar tale, though the village in their version is named Dimlahamid (Temlahan).
189:
people have been referred to as the Western Carrier. They speak Witsuwitʼen, a dialect of the
674: 354:, passed from mother to children. In Witsuwit'en, male hereditary chiefs are referred to as 190: 88: 198: 8: 785: 100: 1297: 761: 691: 338: 1021: 930: 150:
Map showing the rough location of traditional Wetʼsuwetʼen territory in western Canada
1354: 1064: 822: 1007: 830:
Nation. It was founded as an independent office in 1994, after the splitting of the
1200: 747: 238: 194: 84: 71: 1157: 765: 171: 1230:"Re: MOU Meetings with Wet'suwet'en Clans and elected Chief and Band Councillors" 775: 327: 751: 205: 118: 1416: 1398: 1385: 735:
The following four First Nations are not affiliated with any tribal council:
163: 139: 1272: 834:-Wet’suwet’en Tribal Council, which had represented the two nations during 47: 1046: 1183:"Witset First Nation | Moricetown Band Office | Tourism Witset" 351: 134: 731:- also known as Burns Lake, located around Burns Lake, British Columbia. 976: 826: 341:
Wetʼsuwetʼen means "People of the Wa Dzun Kwuh River (Bulkley River)".
167: 1248:"The Delgamuukw decision: When the 'invisible people' won recognition" 846:
As of 2009, the organization was at Stage 4 of the BC Treaty Process.
743: 702:. In 2000, the Skin Tyee Band separated from the Nee-Tahi-Buhn Band. 758:, British Columbia, about 325 kilometres inland from the coast. 750:), also known as Tse-kya ("base of rock"), on the east side of the 901: 831: 314:. In point of fact the is not ejective. Older spellings include 213: 1351:
Eagle Down Is Our Law: Witsuwit'en Law, Feasts, and Land Claims
186: 182: 126: 122: 1227: 1114: 146: 1375: 902:"Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs | BC Treaty Commission" 256: 244: 113: 1182: 265: 259: 286: 268: 253: 241: 262: 247: 803:
Office of the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wetʼsuwetʼen
710:The following two First Nations are members of the 250: 977:"A History of the Wetʼsuwetʼen Village of Tse-kya" 912: 746:(meaning "place of the gentle or quiet people" in 705: 680: 358:, and female hereditary chiefs are referred to as 334:writing system in general use for that language. 1414: 27:First Nations people of British Columbia, Canada 1298:"Office of the Wet'suwet'en Board of Directors" 1228:Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs (May 11, 2020). 690:In 1960, the Decker Lake, François Lake (later 185:or Carrier people, and in combination with the 1223: 1221: 813:, is a political organization governed by the 796: 788:- also known as Moricetown Band, located in 1218: 867:2020 Canadian pipeline and railway protests 1133:"Investing with Hagwilget Village Council" 1094:British Columbia Assembly of First Nations 46: 1125: 193:language which, like its sister language 1245: 145: 133: 14: 1415: 1348: 918: 817:of the Wetʼsuwetʼen people, based in 181:The Wetʼsuwetʼen are a branch of the 138:The Wetʼsuwetʼen's bridge across the 176:Central Interior of British Columbia 65:Regions with significant populations 1308:from the original on April 17, 2020 960: 24: 1290: 1246:Forester, Brett (March 10, 2020). 945: 559:Laksamshu (Fireweed and Owl Clan) 25: 1434: 1369: 1235:. Letter to Chief Maureen Luggi. 660:Where it Lies Blocking the Trail 237: 1320: 1265: 1239: 1193: 1175: 1150: 1107: 1082: 1057: 1039: 996:(Press release). June 15, 2016. 821:. The Office takes part in the 706:Contemporary First Nation bands 681:Wetʼsuwetʼen First Nation bands 610:Gitdumden (Wolf and Bear Clan) 1376:The office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 1333:(Press release). May 14, 2020. 1014: 1000: 983: 969: 954: 939: 924: 894: 740:Hagwilget Village First Nation 13: 1: 882: 861:Delgamuukw v British Columbia 837:Delgamuukw v British Columbia 712:Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council 1090:"Ts'il Kaz Koh (Burns Lake)" 887: 742:- located in the village of 723:Burns Lake, British Columbia 332:Carrier Linguistic Committee 7: 853: 778:to the west of the City of 646:House in the Middle of Many 437:Laksilyu (Small Frog Clan) 10: 1439: 1341: 1302:Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 1277:Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 1205:Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 1162:Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 1069:Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 1026:Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 819:Smithers, British Columbia 807:Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 797:Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 729:Ts'il Kaz Koh First Nation 685: 312:Office of the Wetʼsuwetʼen 29: 948:Death Feast at Dimlahamid 719:Wetʼsuwetʼen First Nation 700:Wetʼsuwetʼen First Nation 370:Gilseyhu (Big Frog Clan) 111: 106: 99: 94: 83: 78: 69: 64: 59: 54: 45: 1353:. Vancouver: UBC Press. 1273:"About Our Organization" 1115:"About | Hagwilget" 963:The Downfall of Temlahan 877: 872:Killing of Jared Lowndes 790:Witset, British Columbia 344: 32:Coastal GasLink Pipeline 1349:Mills, Antonia (2011). 544:Rafters on Beaver House 223: 1399:55.25000°N 127.66667°W 1008:"Governance Structure" 772:Skin Tyee First Nation 151: 143: 18:Wet'suwet'en 459:House Beside the Fire 197:, is a member of the 149: 137: 107:Related ethnic groups 1404:55.25000; -127.66667 1119:Hagwilget Village Co 934:Rocher Déboulé Range 805:, also known as the 506:Tsayu (Beaver Clan) 489:House on a Flat Rock 174:in the northwestern 60:approx. 3,160 (2019) 1395: /  786:Witset First Nation 782:, British Columbia. 611: 560: 507: 438: 371: 170:, Broman Lake, and 101:Indigenous religion 42: 1252:APTN National News 1187:Witset Band Office 764:- formerly called 762:Nee-Tahi-Buhn Band 694:), Maxim Lake and 609: 558: 505: 475:House of Many Eyes 436: 369: 191:Babine-Witsuwitʼen 152: 144: 89:Babine-Witsuwitʼen 40: 961:Barbeau, Marius. 823:BC Treaty Process 815:hereditary chiefs 670: 669: 621:House chief name 605: 604: 570:House chief name 554: 553: 517:House chief name 501: 500: 486:Tsee Kʼal Kʼe Yex 448:House chief name 432: 431: 389:Yex Tʼsa Witʼantʼ 381:House chief name 142:, Hagwilget, 1872 132: 131: 16:(Redirected from 1430: 1410: 1409: 1407: 1406: 1405: 1400: 1396: 1393: 1392: 1391: 1388: 1364: 1335: 1334: 1332: 1324: 1318: 1317: 1315: 1313: 1294: 1288: 1287: 1285: 1283: 1269: 1263: 1262: 1260: 1258: 1243: 1237: 1236: 1234: 1225: 1216: 1215: 1213: 1211: 1197: 1191: 1190: 1179: 1173: 1172: 1170: 1168: 1154: 1148: 1147: 1145: 1143: 1137:British Columbia 1129: 1123: 1122: 1111: 1105: 1104: 1102: 1100: 1086: 1080: 1079: 1077: 1075: 1061: 1055: 1054: 1043: 1037: 1036: 1034: 1032: 1018: 1012: 1011: 1004: 998: 997: 995: 987: 981: 980: 973: 967: 966: 958: 952: 951: 943: 937: 928: 922: 916: 910: 909: 898: 825:through the two 675:Unist'ot'en Camp 612: 608: 587:Alphonse Gagnon 561: 557: 508: 504: 439: 435: 405:Yex Tʼsa Wilkʼus 372: 368: 290: 284: 283: 282: 281: 274: 271: 270: 267: 264: 261: 258: 255: 252: 249: 246: 243: 236: 162:who live on the 72:British Columbia 55:Total population 50: 43: 39: 21: 1438: 1437: 1433: 1432: 1431: 1429: 1428: 1427: 1413: 1412: 1403: 1401: 1397: 1394: 1389: 1386: 1384: 1382: 1381: 1372: 1367: 1361: 1344: 1339: 1338: 1330: 1326: 1325: 1321: 1311: 1309: 1296: 1295: 1291: 1281: 1279: 1271: 1270: 1266: 1256: 1254: 1244: 1240: 1232: 1226: 1219: 1209: 1207: 1199: 1198: 1194: 1181: 1180: 1176: 1166: 1164: 1156: 1155: 1151: 1141: 1139: 1131: 1130: 1126: 1113: 1112: 1108: 1098: 1096: 1088: 1087: 1083: 1073: 1071: 1063: 1062: 1058: 1045: 1044: 1040: 1030: 1028: 1022:"Nee Tahi Buhn" 1020: 1019: 1015: 1006: 1005: 1001: 993: 989: 988: 984: 975: 974: 970: 959: 955: 946:Glavin, Terry. 944: 940: 929: 925: 917: 913: 906:www.bctreaty.ca 900: 899: 895: 890: 885: 880: 856: 799: 776:Omineca Country 708: 688: 683: 671: 606: 555: 502: 472:Gʼen Egh La Yex 433: 422:Birchbark House 414:Warner William 347: 288: 277: 276: 240: 234: 233: 226: 116: 38: 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1436: 1426: 1425: 1379: 1378: 1371: 1370:External links 1368: 1366: 1365: 1359: 1345: 1343: 1340: 1337: 1336: 1319: 1289: 1264: 1238: 1217: 1192: 1174: 1149: 1124: 1106: 1081: 1065:"Browman Lake" 1056: 1051:www.cstc.bc.ca 1038: 1013: 999: 982: 968: 953: 938: 923: 911: 892: 891: 889: 886: 884: 881: 879: 876: 875: 874: 869: 864: 855: 852: 798: 795: 794: 793: 783: 769: 759: 752:Bulkley Canyon 733: 732: 726: 707: 704: 687: 684: 682: 679: 668: 667: 664: 661: 658: 654: 653: 650: 647: 644: 640: 639: 636: 633: 630: 626: 625: 622: 619: 616: 607: 603: 602: 601:Warner Naziel 599: 596: 593: 589: 588: 585: 582: 579: 575: 574: 571: 568: 565: 556: 552: 551: 550:John Ridsdale 548: 545: 542: 538: 537: 532: 529: 526: 522: 521: 518: 515: 512: 503: 499: 498: 493: 492:Wah Tah Kʼeght 490: 487: 483: 482: 479: 476: 473: 469: 468: 463: 460: 457: 456:Kwen Beegh Yex 453: 452: 449: 446: 443: 434: 430: 429: 426: 423: 420: 416: 415: 412: 409: 406: 402: 401: 396: 393: 390: 386: 385: 382: 379: 376: 367: 346: 343: 225: 222: 216:people of the 130: 129: 109: 108: 104: 103: 97: 96: 92: 91: 81: 80: 76: 75: 67: 66: 62: 61: 57: 56: 52: 51: 36: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1435: 1424: 1421: 1420: 1418: 1411: 1408: 1377: 1374: 1373: 1362: 1356: 1352: 1347: 1346: 1329: 1323: 1307: 1303: 1299: 1293: 1278: 1274: 1268: 1253: 1249: 1242: 1231: 1224: 1222: 1206: 1202: 1196: 1188: 1184: 1178: 1163: 1159: 1153: 1138: 1134: 1128: 1120: 1116: 1110: 1095: 1091: 1085: 1070: 1066: 1060: 1052: 1048: 1042: 1027: 1023: 1017: 1009: 1003: 992: 986: 978: 972: 964: 957: 949: 942: 935: 931: 927: 921:, p. 77. 920: 915: 907: 903: 897: 893: 873: 870: 868: 865: 863: 862: 858: 857: 851: 847: 844: 841: 840: 838: 833: 828: 824: 820: 816: 812: 808: 804: 791: 787: 784: 781: 780:Prince George 777: 773: 770: 767: 766:François Lake 763: 760: 757: 753: 749: 745: 741: 738: 737: 736: 730: 727: 724: 720: 717: 716: 715: 713: 703: 701: 697: 693: 692:Nee-Tahi-Buhn 678: 676: 665: 662: 659: 656: 655: 651: 648: 645: 642: 641: 637: 634: 632:Grizzly House 631: 628: 627: 623: 620: 617: 614: 613: 600: 597: 594: 591: 590: 586: 583: 580: 577: 576: 572: 569: 566: 563: 562: 549: 546: 543: 540: 539: 536: 533: 530: 527: 524: 523: 519: 516: 513: 510: 509: 497: 494: 491: 488: 485: 484: 481:Ron Mitchell 480: 477: 474: 471: 470: 467: 464: 462:Wah Tah Kwets 461: 458: 455: 454: 450: 447: 444: 441: 440: 427: 424: 421: 418: 417: 413: 410: 407: 404: 403: 400: 397: 394: 391: 388: 387: 383: 380: 377: 374: 373: 366: 363: 361: 357: 353: 342: 340: 335: 333: 329: 325: 324:Whutsowhutʼen 321: 317: 313: 309: 305: 301: 297: 293: 292: 280: 273: 231: 221: 219: 215: 211: 207: 202: 200: 196: 192: 188: 184: 179: 177: 173: 172:François Lake 169: 165: 164:Bulkley River 161: 157: 148: 141: 140:Bulkley River 136: 128: 124: 120: 115: 110: 105: 102: 98: 93: 90: 86: 82: 77: 73: 68: 63: 58: 53: 49: 44: 33: 19: 1423:Wet'suwet'en 1380: 1350: 1322: 1310:. Retrieved 1301: 1292: 1280:. Retrieved 1276: 1267: 1255:. Retrieved 1251: 1241: 1208:. Retrieved 1204: 1201:"Moricetown" 1195: 1186: 1177: 1165:. Retrieved 1161: 1152: 1140:. Retrieved 1136: 1127: 1118: 1109: 1097:. Retrieved 1093: 1084: 1072:. Retrieved 1068: 1059: 1050: 1047:"Cstc.bc.ca" 1041: 1029:. Retrieved 1025: 1016: 1002: 985: 971: 962: 956: 947: 941: 926: 914: 905: 896: 859: 848: 845: 842: 835: 810: 806: 802: 800: 734: 709: 689: 672: 643:Kalyexwenits 618:Translation 615:House group 567:Translation 564:House group 541:Tsa Kʼen Yex 534: 528:Beaver House 514:Translation 511:House group 495: 465: 445:Translation 442:House group 428:Herb Naziel 398: 378:Translation 375:House group 364: 359: 355: 348: 336: 330:name in the 323: 319: 315: 308:Wetʼsuwetʼen 307: 304:Wetsʼuwetʼen 303: 300:Witʼsuwitʼen 299: 296:Witsʼuwitʼen 295: 230:Wetʼsuwetʼen 229: 227: 209: 206:oral history 203: 180: 160:First Nation 156:Wetʼsuwetʼen 155: 153: 114:Dene peoples 41:Wetʼsuwetʼen 37:Ethnic group 1402: / 1390:127°40′00″W 1158:"Skin Tyee" 666:Jeff Brown 638:Frank Alec 352:Matrilineal 166:and around 119:Tsilhqotʼin 117:Especially 1387:55°15′00″N 1360:0774805137 919:Mills 2011 883:References 827:Indian Act 624:Incumbent 584:Kloum Khun 573:Incumbent 520:Incumbent 478:Hagwilnegh 451:Incumbent 408:Dark House 392:Thin House 384:Incumbent 360:tsʼakë zeʼ 320:Hwotsotʼen 199:Athabaskan 168:Burns Lake 1210:March 12, 1167:March 12, 1142:March 12, 1074:March 12, 932:See also 888:Citations 744:Hagwilget 696:Skin Tyee 652:Fred Tom 649:Gisdayʼwa 598:Smogelgem 595:Sun House 581:Owl House 525:Djakanyex 411:Knedebeas 316:Hotsotʼen 235:English: 228:The word 208:, called 79:Languages 1417:Category 1306:Archived 854:See also 756:Hazelton 657:Anaskasi 578:Medzeyex 395:Goohlaht 356:dinï zeʼ 218:Hazelton 201:family. 95:Religion 70:Canada ( 1342:Sources 1312:June 6, 1282:June 6, 1257:June 6, 1099:June 6, 1031:June 6, 832:Gitxsan 754:, near 748:Gitxsan 686:History 629:Cassyex 592:Tsalyex 547:Naʼmoks 339:endonym 328:Carrier 326:is the 291:-ih-tin 214:Gitxsan 195:Carrier 85:English 1357:  811:the OW 663:Madeek 535:vacant 531:Kweese 496:vacant 466:vacant 425:Samooh 399:vacant 210:kungax 204:Their 187:Babine 183:Dakelh 158:are a 127:Babine 125:, and 123:Dakelh 112:Other 1331:(PDF) 1233:(PDF) 994:(PDF) 878:Notes 419:Kayex 345:Clans 306:, or 275: 1355:ISBN 1314:2020 1284:2020 1259:2020 1212:2020 1169:2020 1144:2020 1101:2020 1076:2020 1033:2020 801:The 635:Woos 337:The 318:and 287:wet- 224:Name 154:The 809:or 289:SOH 178:. 1419:: 1304:. 1300:. 1275:. 1250:. 1220:^ 1203:. 1185:. 1160:. 1135:. 1117:. 1092:. 1067:. 1049:. 1024:. 904:. 714:: 362:. 322:. 302:, 298:, 257:oʊ 121:, 87:, 1363:. 1316:. 1286:. 1261:. 1214:. 1189:. 1171:. 1146:. 1121:. 1103:. 1078:. 1053:. 1035:. 1010:. 979:. 965:. 950:. 936:. 908:. 839:. 792:. 725:. 673:* 272:/ 269:n 266:ɪ 263:t 260:ɪ 254:s 251:ˈ 248:t 245:ɛ 242:w 239:/ 232:( 74:) 34:. 20:)

Index

Wet'suwet'en
Coastal GasLink Pipeline

British Columbia
English
Babine-Witsuwitʼen
Indigenous religion
Dene peoples
Tsilhqotʼin
Dakelh
Babine

Bulkley River
Map of British Columbia and Alberta with traditional Wetʼsuwetʼen territory in north central British Columbia highlighted and labelled "Wetʼsuwetʼen Territory".
First Nation
Bulkley River
Burns Lake
François Lake
Central Interior of British Columbia
Dakelh
Babine
Babine-Witsuwitʼen
Carrier
Athabaskan
oral history
Gitxsan
Hazelton
/wɛtˈsɪtɪn/

wet-SOH-ih-tin

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.