The ‘Namgis are a indigenous nation of the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwak'wala-speaking-people). They are located in central British Columbia, on northern Vancouver Island. Historically, their communities were centered around the Nimpkish River and Nimpkish Valley. Their main village now is Alert Bay, or in their language Yalis on Cormorant Island. The Indian Act First Nations is the Namgis First Nation.
Name
editThe name for these people comes from their language called Kwak'wala. Long ago, they were known to other Kwakwaka'wakw as Dła’ugwa’adaxw, meaning “Supernatural Power Tribe”. Later, they took the name ‘Namgis meaning both “Those Who Came From the Sea Monster ‘Namxiyalegayu” and “Those That Are One When They Come Together”.[1] The anglicized misnomer became Nimpkish.
History
editOrigins
editStories
editPre-contact
editColonization
editFirst contact between European's and ‘Namgis was in 1792 off the mouth of what became known by Europeans as the Nimpkish River with Captain George Vancouver.[2]
Assimilation and discrimination
editGeography
editTerritory
editVillages
editSociety
editGovernance
editThe four clans, or ‘namima ("Clans/Families") which means “of one kind”, as they are called in kwak'wala, are the following:[3]
T`sit`sałwalagame’ “The Famous Ones”
T`łat`łalamin “Those Descending from T`łalamin”
Giga’lgam “The First Ones”
Sisant`łe’ “Those Descending from Sant`łe’”
‘Ni’nalk`inuxw “The Up-River People”
Every family of the people can trace their lineage back to these first ancestors who survived the Great Flood. These clans make up the basic governing structure of the whole nation, with different lower ‘namima owing their ancestral lineage to the head chiefs of the ‘namima.[4]
Social structure
editLaw
editProperty
editEconomy
editTrade
editDistribution of wealth
editEducation
editFamily and kinship
editCulture
editHistorical and cultural context
editCustoms and daily life
editLanguage
editArts
editSpirituality
editOrigin story
editDualism
editDeath and the afterlife
editShamanism
editPractices
editHealing
editFood and cuisine
editNutrition
editSalmon
editNotable ‘Namgis
editSee also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ ‘Namgis / Dła’ugwa’adaxw Ni’namima. Retrieved on March 30, 2008.
- ^ ‘Namgis Community. ‘Namgis First Nation website. Retrieved on March 30, 2008.
- ^ ‘Namgis / Dła’ugwa’adaxw Ni’namima. Retrieved on March 30, 2008.
- ^ ‘Namgis / Dła’ugwa’adaxw Ni’namima. Retrieved on March 30, 2008.