Gitlax'aws [git-LAK SAWS]
Language of origin Tsimshianic language family Nisg̲a’a language
Feature Type:Former First Nation Village - A place formerly inhabited by First Nations' people, with no current population or that is usually uninhabited.
Status: Not official
Other Names: GitlaxksiipOfficial, Grease Harbour
Relative Location: E side Nass River, above New Aiyansh, Cassiar Land District
Tags: Indigenous
Latitude-Longitude: 55°18'19"N, 129°04'06"W at the approximate population centre of this feature.
Datum: WGS84
NTS Map: 103P/6
Origin Notes and History:

Identified as Gitlax'aws (fishing station/camp) per October 1997 advice from Ayuukhl Nisga'a Department.
Adopted as Gitlaxksiip (Former Indian Village), as identified in the 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

This is the beginning of the Grease Trail, and here inland groups camped as they made final preparations to return to their own territory after oolichan fishing season at sites lower on the Nass River. The camp was known to Europeans as Grease Harbour, although not labelled on modern maps. An historic monument is located here. In addition to a 1 ha. section where the trail crosses Wii Pdalks/Cranberry River, a second section of the historic Grease Trail near the site of Gitlaxksiip/Gitlax'aws will be designated as a Provincial Heritage Site under the terms of the Nisga'a Final Agreement, Appendix F-1, effective 11 May 2000.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Gitlax'aws (fishing station or camp) is situated beside Ts'im Anwiihlist (fishing site) and means "people of the location where there is sand". [Git/ people of; lax/ on; aws/ sand]. Here is where the Gitxsan/Kitwancool were permitted by the Nisga'a to camp as they made final preparations to return to their own territory after oolichan season. This is the reason the Gitxsan referred to this area as Gitlaxksiip (ksiip in their own language means "sand"), and that name became more commonly used for a time. It has also been referred to as Grease Harbour. After contact in the late 1800's, it began to be used as a more permanent establishment for a time by non-Nisga'a.

Source: Nisga'a Tribal Council / Ayuukhl Nisga'a Department, Aiyansh BC