Lax̱g̱altsʼap Explained

Official Name:Lax̱g̱altsap
Other Name:Greenville
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Canada British Columbia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Lax̱g̱altsap in British Columbia
Coordinates:55.0306°N -129.575°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Canada
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:Indigenous territories
Subdivision Name2:Nisg̱aa
Established Title:Established
Leader Title1:Governing body
Leader Name1:Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government
Population Total:474
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:−8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:−7
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:V0J 1X0
Area Code:250
Motto:Dwelling place, Dwelling Places[1]

Lax̱g̱altsap (also Laxqaltsap, and formerly Lachkaltsap[2]) is a Nisg̱a’a village of approximately 248,[3] in the Nass River valley of British Columbia, Canada.It is one of the four main villages in the Nisg̱a’a Lisims, the formal name for their territory, and is situated on the north side of the Nass River between Gitwinksihlkw to the east and Ging̱olx to the west. It is approximately 24 km from where the Nass empties into the Pacific Ocean at Nass Bay. Road access is via the Nisga'a Highway.

Name origin

In the Nisg̱a’a language, Lax̱g̱altsap translates to "village on village"—the current village was built on the site of a much older one.[4]
The older village at this site, known as Gitxatin, was destroyed by fire.[5]

Lax̱g̱altsap got its English name of Greenville (pron.)[6] from Methodist Missionary Alfred Green, who was based here in the late 19th century.[7]

Until reconstituted as a Nisg̱a’a Village in 2000 by the terms of the Nisga'a Treaty, Lax̱g̱altsap was formerly Lachkaltsap Indian Reserve No. 9.[8]

Nisg̱a’a Museum

The Nisg̱a’a Museum is the Nisg̱a’a people's primary place for display of Nisg̱a’a artifacts, sharing traditions and ideas, and a centre for research and learning.[9] It was established in Lax̱g̱altsap and opened in the spring of 2011.

Education

The community is served by School District 92 Nisga'a and hosts Alvin A. McKay Elementary School. The secondary school is in Gitlakdamix.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 19 Aug 2020 . Laxgalts'ap Village Government . en . A20 . The Interior News . subscription . 14 Jun 2023.
  2. https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/48741.html BCGNIS entry "Lachkaltsap (settlement")
  3. Web site: Government of Canada . Statistics Canada . 2022-02-09 . Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Laxgalts'ap, Nisga'a village (NVL) [Designated place], British Columbia ]. 2023-06-13 . www12.statcan.gc.ca.
  4. http://www.citytel.net/~nisga1/Laxgalts'ap.html Laxgaltsap Village Homepage (My World of the Nisgaa Nation)
  5. https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/53994.html BCGNIS entry "Laxgaltsap (Community)"
  6. https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/36799.html BCGNIS entry "Greenville (Community) - Rescinded"
  7. "Greenville". Encyclopedia of British Columbia. (2000). Harbour Publishing
  8. http://archive.ilmb.gov.bc.ca/bcgn-bin/bcg10?name=33690 BCGNIS entry "Lachkaltsap Indian Reserve 9"
  9. http://www.nisgaamuseum.ca/welcome Nisgaa Museum