BCGNIS Query Results

GitwinksihlkwOfficial Name
Pronounced:"GIT-win silk"
Feature Type:Community
Latitude:55°11'30" Position at: POPULATION CENTRE
Longitude:129°13'00"
Gazetteer Map:103P/3
Relative Location:N side of lower Nass River, below Ksi Sii Aks (Tseax River), Cassiar Land District
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Origin Notes and History

Canyon City (Settlement) adopted 25 September 1974 on 103P at 55 12 - 129 09. Form of name changed to Canyon City (Community) 25 August 1980 on 103P/3, and coordinates corrected to 55 12 - 129 13. Name changed to Gitwinksihlkw (community) 17 July 1989 on 103P/3 per Band Council Resolution. Gitwinksihlkw (Community) confirmed per Nisga'a Treaty, Appendix F-3, effective 11 May 2000.
Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Spelled Kitwanchilt on Geological Survey sheet 69A, Route Map of Part of Nass River, 1912; numerous other spelling variations through the years, including Gitwencheltque and Gitwenchilque.
Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Gitwinksihlkw means "people of the lizard's habitat" [Git/ people of; win (derived from 'wil wanhl'...)/ where situated, or inhabited by; ksihlkw/ salamander]. The salamander, a lizard-like animal, once inhabited the bay area of the community, however, in the 1700's a volcanic eruption caused lava flows to bury the two neighbouring communities of Wii Lax K'abit and Lax Ksiluux; since that time the ksilkw (salamander) has either disappeared from the area or become extinct.
Source: Nisga'a Tribal Council / Ayuukhl Nisga'a Department, Aiyansh BC