Gitwinksihlkw Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, British Columbia

Community - An unincorporated populated place, generally with a population of 50 or more, and having a recognized central area that might contain a post office, store and/or community hall, etc, intended for the use of the general public in the region. N side of lower Nass River, below Ksi Sii Aks (River), Cassiar Land District

Mapped Location

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

 

Information

General information on Gitwinksihlkw

  • Feature Type: Place

 

Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Gitwinksihlkw

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

Name Description
Gitwinksihlkw Official

 

Origin Notes and History of Gitwinksihlkw

References to Gitwinksihlkw that document the origin of its place name

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.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office  |  Province of British Columbia

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.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office  |  Province of British Columbia

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.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
Nisga'a Tribal Council / Ayuukhl Nisga'a Department, Aiyansh BC  |  Province of British Columbia

 

Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine

Political Boundaries

Last updated: 2023-10-01