Laxgibuu
Encyclopedia
The Laxgibuu is the name for the Wolf "clan" (phratry) in the language
Coast Tsimshian
Coast Tsimshian, known by its speakers as Sm'algyax, is a Tsimshianic language spoken by the Tsimshian nation in northwestern British Columbia and southeastern Alaska...

 of the Tsimshian
Tsimshian
The Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000...

 nation of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada, and southeast Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...

. It is considered analogous or identical to identically named clans among the neighboring Gitksan and Nisga'a
Nisga'a
The Nisga’a , often formerly spelled Nishga and spelled in the Nisga’a language as Nisga’a, are an Indigenous nation or First Nation in Canada. They live in the Nass River valley of northwestern British Columbia. Their name comes from a combination of two Nisga’a words: Nisk’-"top lip" and...

 nations.

The name Laxgibuu derives from gibuu, which means wolf in the Gitksan and Nisga'a languages. In Tsimshian the word is gibaaw, but Tsimshians still use the word Laxgibuu for Wolf clan.

The chief crest of the Laxgibuu is the Wolf. Other crests used by some matrilineal house-groups of the Laxgibuu include black bear.

Some Laxgibuu house-groups are related to Wolf clan groups among the Tahltan
Tahltan
Tahltan refers to a Northern Athabaskan people who live in northern British Columbia around Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake, and Iskut.-Social Organization:...

 and Tlingit First Nations to the north. In the case of the Tlingit, the connection is through Tlingit Wolves who migrated south from what is now Alaska to escape interclan warfare and settled among the Tsimshian, Gitksan, and Nisga'a. Descendants of some of these migrants share with their distant Tlingit relatives variants on the "Bear Mother" story which has been well recorded by anthropologists and folklorists. The Kitsumkalum Laxgibuu are one example of a Tsimshian Wolf group who own the right to tell this story.

Nisga'a - Laxgibuu

Some Nisga'a Laxgibuu Wilp (House groups) include:
  • Gitwilnaak'il Clan (People Separate but Of One):
      • House of Duuk - Bill Moore
      • House of K'eexkw - Herbert Morven
      • House of Gwingyoo - Ben Gonu Sr. & Leonard Robinson

  • Giskansnaat Clan (People of Hawthorn Bushes):
      • House of Sgat'iin - Isaac Guno
      • House of Ni'isyok - Martin Adams
      • House of Gwiskaayn - Nelson Clayton

  • Gitlaxt'iyook Clan:
      • House of Baxk'ap - Jacob Nyce
      • House of Axdii 'Min'aajax - Max Haines
      • House of 'Wii Gadim Xgaak - Clyde Azak

  • Gitgigeenix Clan (People from the North):
      • House of 'Nagwa'un - Rod Maxwell
      • House of Ni'ismuut - James McNeil
      • House of Ni'islis'yaan - Eddie Nelson
      • House of Kw'axsuu - Stuart Doolan
  • Gitwilluuyaxw Clan:
      • House of Ksdiyaawak - George Williams Sr.

  • House of Wii Naa-Buxw - Terry Morven
  • House of Axgwindaskw - Clifford Azak Sr.
  • House of Aama Gat - Gary Stevens

  • House of 'Wii Gwisyaxw - Arnie Stewart
  • House of Xsduutgum Laxha - Joe Calder
  • Sim'oogit Gakw'hleen - Hubert Doolan
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