Haisla << HY zlah >> are a First Nations people of Canada’s northwest coast. First Nations is a designation used in Canada for indigenous (native) peoples. About 2,000 Haisla live within the central, inner-coastal region of the present-day province of British Columbia , including the area around the Douglas Channel and the city of Kitimat . The Haisla are a union of two bands of people—the Kitimat (also spelled Kitamaat), which means people of the snow, and the Kitlope, which means people of the rocks. Following the arrival of Europeans in British Columbia, Kitlope population loss was great and many survivors relocated to the Kitimat region. Today, the Haisla are sometimes called the Kitimat. Haisla society is divided among eight clans (groups of related families). The clans are called Beaver, Crow, Eagle, Frog, Killer Whale, Raven, Salmon, and Wolf.
Traditionally, salmon, eulachon (also called oolichan or candlefish), and other fish were important food and trading items for the Haisla. In addition to fishing, the Haisla gathered shellfish and a wide variety of plant foods, including berries. They also hunted mountain goats, deer, and bears. Each year, the Haisla traveled throughout their territory, mainly in small groups. They typically spent each winter in the same village, which they shared with several other Haisla groups.
Cedar was an important resource for the Haisla. It was used to make canoes, totem poles, masks , and tools, as well as housing. The bark was shredded and woven into baskets, mats, and clothing.
Each clan had a chief and a unique arrangement of social classes. Chiefs were usually men and were chosen based on their relationships with high-ranking women. Traditional Haisla society was matrilineal, with rights and responsibilities mainly determined by relationships traced through women family members.
Potlatches , ceremonial events of feasting and gift giving, served many important functions in Haisla society. Marriages, the initiation of new chiefs, and other significant events were celebrated with a potlatch, in which the host shared goods with the guests and other ceremonial duties were performed. The Haisla used potlatches to distribute resources, establish public records, and uphold social classes.
The Haisla suffered significant population loss from disease and many lifestyle changes following contact with European and American settlers in the 1800’s. However, Haisla culture has endured. Today, many Haisla engage in traditional fishing, hunting, gathering, and trading activities. They continue to practice potlatches, traditional woodcarving, and a matrilineal family organization. The Haisla Nation has made various agreements with the Canadian government but has never surrendered Haisla territory nor signed an official treaty. About one-third of the Haisla people live in the nation’s traditional territory.
