| Feature Type: | 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. |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Pronounced: | GIT-win silk |
| Relative Location: | N side of lower Nass River, below Ksi Sii Aks (River), Cassiar Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 55°11'34"N, 129°13'14"W at the approximate population centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 103P/3 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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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. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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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. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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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. Source: Nisga'a Tribal Council / Ayuukhl Nisga'a Department, Aiyansh BC |