About

We are Wilps ‘Wii K’aax Lax Gibuu Kali Ax Gitxsan (Raven House of the Wolf Clan, Along Gitxsan Rivers), Title holders and Guardians of our three Lax’yip (territories) encompassing 214,193 hectares (ha);

Xsu Wii Ax – 69,769 hectares in the Sustut watershed
An Gil Galanos 118,623 hectares in the Babine watershed
Miin Anhl Gii – 25,801 hectares in the Upper Skeena watershed.

Like all Indigenous Nations in North America, we have felt the impact of the attempted strategic appropriation of our lands, dispossession not only of land but also of our connections to our traditional ways of life; our culture, language, history, and economic opportunities. These dispossessions, displacements and disconnections associated with historical colonialism continue to this day, undermining our well-being and health equity.

For more than two hundred years, the exploitation of our people and natural resources within the lands of our ancestors has taken place, severely burdening our communities. The BC Rail grade, that transects our lax’yip, has been noted as the single largest environmental liability in northern BC when it comes to ecosystem functionality and water and salmon stewardship. Outside developers and shareholders have produced a great deal of wealth from our forests, lands, waters and wildlife with minimal benefits, if any, for Wilps ‘Wii K’aax. Since our landmark Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa litigation, we have continued to face numerous challenges and obstacles along the way. While we have made some progress in reclaiming our title rights and asserting our sovereignty, there is still much work to be done to fully restore what has been taken from us and ensure a sustainable and equitable future for our people.

“Throughout history our people have been challenged by outside forces, governments, religious institutions and residential schools that almost took our identity away. At present we are bringing back all that was almost lost. We will achieve our greatest health and potential when we can live fully and thrive holistically as a community with our language, culture and feast system in place.”