'Ksan Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, British Columbia

Mapped Location

'Ksan: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.

 

Information

General information on 'Ksan

  • Feature Type: Place

 

Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for 'Ksan

A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named

Name Description
'Ksan Official

 

Origin Notes and History of 'Ksan

References to 'Ksan that document the origin of its place name

Adopted 19 February 1976 on 93M; a well-established name.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office.  |  Province of British Columbia

This strategic site, overlooking the junction of the Bulkley and Skeena Rivers, is near the ancient village of Gitaanmax. 'Ksan (the Gitxsan name for the Skeena River) is a replicated ancient Gitsxan village and cultural interpretive centre; the Skeena Treasure House, constructed in the 1940's to house and display Gitxsan antiquities and material culture, was moved from Hazelton to this site in 1969.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office.  |  Province of British Columbia

"For centuries and possibly millennia, Gitxsan’s have maintained communities at important canyons and junctions on the Skeena River. This location was an important fishing site and transportation hub.

As a replicated ancient village, ‘Ksan illustrates many features of a Gitxsan village from the distant past. For example, like its predecessors, ‘Ksan’s houses form a single line with each building facing the river. From this position, the large decorated house fronts and totem poles of the village are visible from the water. In conjunction with other features, such as the smoke house and food cache, ‘Ksan illustrates characteristics typical of a past Gitxsan village." (https://ksan.org/village/)

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
included with note  |  Province of British Columbia

 

Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine

Political Boundaries

Last updated: 2023-10-01