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Title: Excavations at Gitlaxdzawk
Description: Pit H, fortifications

The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of Gitlaxdzawk along with Gitsaex operated a toll system in the Kitselas
Show morePit H, fortifications

The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of Gitlaxdzawk along with Gitsaex operated a toll system in the Kitselas Canyon in which all foreign travellers paid a tribute to Gitselasu chiefs in order to secure their passage. If the toll was not paid, large boulders would be thrown from the cliffs into the canoes of the trespassers.

Suffering high death rates from smallpox and other effects of immigrant contact, the Gitselasu abandoned Gitladzawk some time before 1866.
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Date: 1968, 1968

Title: Aerial of Village Site
Description: Aerial view of the Grand Trunk Pacific rail line and the village site of Gitlaxdzawk.
Date: 1968, 1968

Title: Close up of Relocated Posts
Description: Sections of totem poles salvaged by Harlan I. Smith from Gitladzok village displayed for Grand Trunk Pacific and later CN Rail tourists.
Date: 1927, 1927

Title: Carved Face in Beaver Post
Description: Detail: Human faces on the beaver house post of Gitsaxdzawk. The post represents the story of the giant beaver, Pelemgwae. When the giant beaver was driven from its home by the Gitselesu people it was said to have human heads on its back.

Known as the Peleqwa House post, it belonged to the house of Iyoos. Houseone1 on the Gitlaxdzawk map (see
Show moreDetail: Human faces on the beaver house post of Gitsaxdzawk. The post represents the story of the giant beaver, Pelemgwae. When the giant beaver was driven from its home by the Gitselesu people it was said to have human heads on its back.

Known as the Peleqwa House post, it belonged to the house of Iyoos. Houseone1 on the Gitlaxdzawk map (see Gitlaxdzawk_051).
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Date: 1971, 1971

Title: Site Excavation
Description: An excavated pit.
Date: 1971, 1971

Title: Sketch of Gaum's House and Canyon
Description: A drawing of the Gitladzawk fortress site and village.
Date: 1878, 1878

Title: Tourists
Description: A group of female tourists, likely Kitselas residents visiting the Kitselas Canyon.
Date: ca. 1912, 1910; 1911; 1912; 1913; 1914; 1915

Title: C. Hopkins Painting of Warriors Doing Battle
Description: �The Battle of Champions at the Kitselas Fortress,� shows how two designated warriors settled a dispute about access to trade routes on the Skeena River. The Tsimshian and Athabaskan communities each fronted one of their best fighters, armed with personal totems, wooden shin guards and copper daggers (weapons, apparently, worth a slave), and the
Show more�The Battle of Champions at the Kitselas Fortress,� shows how two designated warriors settled a dispute about access to trade routes on the Skeena River. The Tsimshian and Athabaskan communities each fronted one of their best fighters, armed with personal totems, wooden shin guards and copper daggers (weapons, apparently, worth a slave), and the resulting battle was enough to settle the issue permanently, with no further loss of life.
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Date: ca. 2000, 1995; 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999; 2000; 2001; 2002; 2003; 2004; 2005

Title: Leaning House Post
Description: Interior house post of House of Gaum named Whole Being.

House of Gaum is house seven on the Gitlaxdzawk map (see Gitlaxdzawk_051).
Date: 1927, 1927

Title: Kitselas Canyon
Description: Fortress and site of Chief Gaum's house.
Date: 1927, 1927

Title: Detail of Beaver House Post
Description: The beaver house post of Gitlaxdzawk representing the giant beaver Pelemgwae. The pole was reerected through a project of the National Museum of Canada in 1927.

Known as the Peleqwa House post, it belonged to the house of Iyoos. House one on the Gitlaxdzawk map (see Gitlaxdzawk_051).
Date: 1971, 1971

Title: House Ridge Beam
Description: Fallen and decaying ridge beam from House Three.
Date: 1971, 1971

Title: Beaver Post
Description: The beaver house post as found by Smith in 1927. The post represents the giant beaver Pelemgwae.

Known as the Peleqwa House post, it belonged to the house of Iyoos. House one on the Gitlaxdzawk map (see Gitlaxdzawk_051).
Date: 1927, 1927

Title: Site Excavation
Description: Pit C looking north

The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of Gitlaxdzawk along with Gitsaex operated a toll system in the Kitselas
Show morePit C looking north

The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of Gitlaxdzawk along with Gitsaex operated a toll system in the Kitselas Canyon in which all foreign travellers paid a tribute to Gitselasu chiefs in order to secure their passage. If the toll was not paid, large boulders would be thrown from the cliffs into the canoes of the trespassers.

Suffering high death rates from smallpox and other effects of immigrant contact, the Gitselasu abandoned Gitladzawk some time before 1866.
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Date: 1968, 1968

Title: Excavation
Description: South wall of pit C at the end of excavation. The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of Gitlaxdzawk along with Gitsaex operated a toll
Show moreSouth wall of pit C at the end of excavation. The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of Gitlaxdzawk along with Gitsaex operated a toll system in the Kitselas Canyon in which all foreign travellers paid a tribute to Gitselasu chiefs in order to secure their passage. If the toll was not paid, large boulders would be thrown from the cliffs into the canoes of the trespassers.

Suffering high death rates from smallpox and other effects of immigrant contact, the Gitselasu abandoned Gitladzawk some time before 1866.
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Date: 1968, 1968

Title: Detail of All Hat Post
Description: One of the All Hat exterior house posts of the House of Gaum.

House of Gaum is house seven on the Gitlaxdzawk map (see Gitlaxdzawk_051).
Date: 1968, 1968

Title: One of All Hat Exterior Posts
Description: One of the All Hat exterior house posts of the House of Gaum.

House of Gaum is house seven on the Gitlaxdzawk map (see Gitlaxdzawk_051).
Date: 1968, 1968

Title: Detail of All Hat Post
Description: One of the All Hat exterior house posts of the House of Gaum.

House of Gaum is house seven on the Gitlaxdzawk map (see Gitlaxdzawk_051).
Date: 1968, 1968

Title: Vegitation Covering Gaum's House
Description: Clearing the vegitatio n from Chief Gaum's house. Rotting ridge beam is in foreground.

The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of
Show moreClearing the vegitatio n from Chief Gaum's house. Rotting ridge beam is in foreground.

The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of Gitlaxdzawk along with Gitsaex operated a toll system in the Kitselas Canyon in which all foreign travelers paid a tribute to Gitselasu chiefs in order to secure their passage. If the toll was not paid, large boulders would be thrown from the cliffs into the canoes of the trespassers.

Suffering high death rates from smallpox and other effects of immigrant contact, the Gitselasu abandoned Gitladzawk some time before 1866.
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Date: 1971, 1971

Title: Arriving on Site
Description: Arrival on site by CN train. July 8th 1968.

The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of Gitlaxdzawk along with Gitsaex operated a toll
Show moreArrival on site by CN train. July 8th 1968.

The village of Gitlaxdzawk is situated on a small island in the Kitselas Canyon but is now connected to land by a dry gully created as a result of infill when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad tunnels were constructed between 1910 and 1913.

The people of Gitlaxdzawk along with Gitsaex operated a toll system in the Kitselas Canyon in which all foreign travellers paid a tribute to Gitselasu chiefs in order to secure their passage. If the toll was not paid, large boulders would be thrown from the cliffs into the canoes of the trespassers.

Suffering high death rates from smallpox and other effects of immigrant contact, the Gitselasu abandoned Gitladzawk some time before 1866.
Show less
Date: 1968, 1968

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