Haisla people

Haisla
Xa’islak’ala, X̄a’islakʼala, X̌àʼislakʼala, X̣aʼislak’ala, Xai:sla
Logo of the Haisla Nation Council
Total population
1,500[1]
Regions with significant populations
British Columbia
Languages
English, Haisla
Religion
Native, Christianity,
Related ethnic groups
Heiltsuk, Wuikinuxv, Kwakiutl

Haisla people (Xa’islak’ala, X̄a’islakʼala, X̌àʼislakʼala, X̣aʼislak’ala, or Xai:sla) are a First Nation who reside in Kitamaat.[2] The Haisla consist of two bands: the Kitamaat people, residing in upper Douglas Channel and Devastation Channel, and the Kitlope People, inhabiting upper Princess Royal Channel and Gardner Canal in British Columbia, Canada.

The Kitamaat people identify themselves as Haisla, meaning "dwellers downriver". The term Kitamaat originates from the Tsimshian people. In Tsimshian, the name Kitamaat means "people of the snow".[3]

The Haisla language is officially named X̄a’islak̓ala.[4] Historically, the Haisla, along with their neighboring Wuikinuxv and Heiltsuk peoples, were mistakenly identified as the Northern Kwakiutl.

  1. ^ "Home". haisla.ca. Archived from the original on 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
  2. ^ "Haisla Nation | British Columbia Assembly of First Nations". www.bcafn.ca. Archived from the original on 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  3. ^ "Culture & History | Learn about the Haisla First Nation". Kitimat Bound. Archived from the original on 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  4. ^ "Let's Speak Haisla!". haislakala.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-06-18.