Gitsenimx̱

Language Family: Tsimshianic

Dialects: Gitsenimx̱, Gitsanimx̱ (eastern)

Language known as: Gitsanimx̱

^A, Gitxsan, Gitxsen, Gitksan, Hazelton

Gitsenimx̱ ^B is spoken by the Gitxsan Nation whose territory is along the upper Skeena and Bulkley Rivers. This Nation has six main villages that the Canadian government recognized as individual First Nations. The three villages along the lower portion of the Skeena River in Gitxsan territory speak the western dialect. In the three villages in the northeastern part of the territory speak the people have a different pronounciation for the name of their language and call it Gitsanimx̱.

"There are approximately 13,000 members of the Gitxsan nation worldwide, with about 70% living on the traditional territories. The population is young compared to provincial and Canadian statistics with over 70% under the age of 30. Most live in five Gitxsan villages (Gitwangak ^C, Gitsegukla ^D, Gitanmaax ^E, Glen Vowell ^F, Kispiox ^G) and two provincial municipalities (Hazelton, New Hazelton). The Gitxsan people make up about 80% of the total population living on the territories. The remaining population is mostly of European descent"¹.

For more resources see the Gitsenimx̱ Resource Page

State of the Language

First Nation	Population	Fluent Speakers	Understand or Speak Somewhat	Learning Speakers
Anspa yaxw (Kispiox)²	1449	74	119	161
Gitanmaax Band Council³	10200	200	2000	200
Gitanyow Band Council²	718	37	59	80
Gitsegukla Band Council²	884	45	72	98
Gitwangak Band Council⁴	1176	68	2	35
Sik-edakh (Glen Vowell)²	386	20	32	43
Total	14813	444	2284	617

Dialects

Gitsenimx̱

Gitsegukla, Gitwangak, and Gitanyow ^H speak the same dialect and call their language Gitsenimx̱.

Gitsanimx̱ (eastern)

The eastern communities of Kispiox, Glen Vowell, Gitanmaax speak the same dialect and pronounce their language Gitsanimx̱.

Footnotes / References

1. copied from http://www.gitxsan.com/html/who.htm
2. Language Data from Gitxsan Wet'suwet'en Education Society (2011), Language Needs Assessment #2331
3. Language Data from Urban Gitxsan Society (2011), Language Needs Assessment #2364
4. Language Data from Gitwangak Education Society (2012), Language Needs Assessment #2429

Audio Clip References