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Introduction | History | Daily Life | Culture | References

History

K'amligihahlhaahl

All First Nations have a creation story. The Nisga'a's begins with K'amligihahlhaahl, a supreme being who is the centre of their traditional beliefs. He created the Nisga'a and provides them with all things in life, according to some legends. Whenever the Nisga'a have been in trouble, they have called upon K'amligihahlhaahl for help.

Txeemism

	Source
	Nass-Skeena Summit, British Columbia, 1898-1900

Nisga'a legends say that many years ago when the people called for help, K'amligihahlhaahl sent them Txeemism to give them guidance. Txeemism saw that the people lived in darkness, so he brought the sun close enough to the earth to provide light. Next, he formed the mountains and rivers, and created fish and animals for food. Everything that the Nisga'a needed, he provided, teaching the people how to survive the long winters, how to live in harmony with the natural world, and how to live a moral life. He even created the Nass River. When Txeemism visits people, they say he appears as a raven or a giant being. Today, some Nisga'a can show you the places Txeemism visited when he came to their lands long ago.

Glossary

creation story: a story that explains how a particular Aboriginal people has come to be on the earth