Wars with the Niska and Tsimshian and conflicts between Haida families
Wars with the Niska and Tsimshian and conflicts between Haida families [Told by Richard of the Middle-giti'ns]
Location: Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada; Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada; Nisga'a Nation, British Columbia, Canada; Skidegate, BC, Canada
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
Haida Texts and Myths by John Reed Swanton, 1905.
Wars with the Niska and Tsimshian and conflicts between Haida families
[Told by Richard of the Middle-giti'ns]
One of the Point-town people lived in Nass. Word came that he had been killed there. Then the Point-town people started to war. After they had drunk sea water for a while they raised their canoes. In the canoes Skilqe'xas and Gia'ołins were the war chiefs. Presently they started. They had their town at House-point.
Then then went by way of the Tlingit country. They even traveled during the day. They discovered some dried salmon at LA'mas. They (the Nass people) thought that they did not care about the man who was killed. After they had waited there until evening they went out early in the morning. They killed then many of the Nass people. They also took slaves. At that time Qogī’s ran after some. He ran quickly to some women who were sitting together. He started to bring out ten by the hair. He got only six of them out.
They got then all the heads of the Niska people. They got sixteen slaves for Gia'ołins, and they got thirteen for Skilqe'xas. Then they occupied a fort at House-point.
After some time the Niska people came to fight in five canoes. That time they began to fight at House-point. Five of the Point-town people were killed. And one canoe load of Niska people was destroyed. They then went away.
And the Point-town people again went to war. That time they fought at Nass village. They enslaved ten for Skîlqe'xas. They also enslaved eight for Gia'ołins. They then returned to House-point, singing songs of victory.
And while they were living at Łi'elAñ the Nass people came to House-point to fight. The town of House-point was empty then, and the Nass people burned the town. And the Nass people also seized the provision house' Skîlqe'xas behind the town.
Then the Point-town people again went to Nass to fight. At that time they met four canoes below the town of Lag.A'mk!ida. And they destroyed three. They again took some slaves that time. They came away to Łi'elAñ, singing songs of victory.
After they had livial there for a while, they thought the Nass people too powerful for them, and they moved to Masset. After they had lived there some time, the Nass people came Łi'elAñ to to fight. When the Nass people came upon it very early in the morning they found the town empty, and they burned it. And, when they saw the smoke from Masset, the Point-town people went thither to fight. At that time they had a pitched battle. They fought all day. Many were killed on both sides. Four of the Up-inlet-gîtî'ns went to fight with them. Two of them were killed.
And, when they came back, the Up-inlet-gîtî'ns asked the Point-town people to pay something for them. They gave then one slave for the two men. And the Up-inlet-gîtî'ns went away and left the slave. That evening they killed two of the Point-town people. The Up-inlet-gîtî'ns began at once to fight with the Point-town people. Many were killed on each side. After they had fought all winter they talked of peace. They then gave many slaves back and forth as blood compensation. Then there was peace.
When summer came the Point-town people went to the Nass to war. After they had been unable to find an opportunity to do any damage for some time three canoes came along, and they pursued them. They killed all who were in them. But they were Tsimshian. They enslaved them.
On account of that the Tsimshian came to fight. Then they had a pitched battle with the Point-town people. At that time many were killed on both sides.
After that the Point-town people again went to fight. Some campers were then dying halibut at the mouth of the Skeena. They destroyed them all. They also took many as slaves.
After that the Tsimshian again came to war. At that time they took nine women as slaves out of four canoes in which the people had gone out to pick berries. They belonged to many families. They also killed three men. Some escaped to the woods.
Many families went at once to war together. They destroyed then many Tsimshian who were camping out. At that time they also enslaved a great number. Then they came to Masset, singing songs of victory. Then they did not come again to fight. When it was summer the Tsimshian came to make peace. And, while the whole town danced together, they gave them property. When that was over they wanted the Masset people to go across in their turn. Those also then went over to make peace. They also gave them a great deal of property.
The news then reached the Niska that they had made peace. And they also came to dance [without having sent word in advance]. When the Nass people landed in front of the town they shot at them. Many of the Nass people were killed. Part escaped, and some time afterward they came to fight. At that time many were killed on both sides.
Then the Point-town people also went to fight. They came to Lag.A'mk!ida. That time the Nass people won. They killed many of the Masset people. When they went to war the next time they killed many of the Nass people. . And they killed a town chief named Sqat!î'n. The Nass people were very sorry on account of him. They wept and scratched their faces. The others returned singing songs of victory.
And when they went thither to fight again the town of Lag.A'mkIida was empty. They then burned the town. They captured many boxes of grease.
When they returned Skîlqē'xas summoned the people. He said that he would send feathers to the Niska. Then some of them did not like it. And Gia'ołins also summoned the people. He said the same thing. Then all agreed. And they took over feathers to the Tsimshian. After that they carried them up to the Niska.
Some time afterward they came in ten canoes. They then carried the dancers into all the houses. At that time they gave them a great deal of blood money. They gave three slaves for the chief they had killed. At that time there was not a single slave left in Masset. They gave them all away as blood money. Then they went joyfully away. Some were dancing: some were singing canoe songs. At that time they also left feathers. They wanted the Masset people [to visit them].
They then also went over. They gave them a great deal of blood money. They had then a true peace with each other. The Nass people also told them to come and get boxes of grease, and they went over to get them. They [the Niska] then settled again in the burned town. The Nass people gave them boxes of grease.
And when they came home the Point-town people again fought with the Up-inlet-gîtî'ns. Five chiefs of the Point-town people were killed. After they had fought for a while the Point-town people carried over two copper plates to Q!ayā'ñ. There they threw them into the water. Then those, too, had peace with each other. They gave slaves back and forth as blood money. And they had women on each side marry with the opposites, because they feared that they would be angry again. Now there was peace.
Afterward, when they had been visiting among the Tsimshian for some time, one of the Rocky-Coast-gîtî'ns" was killed among the Tsimshian. When they came to make peace on account of him they were so easy to kill on the coast that they destroyed them. Then they brought those [dead bodies] home also.
At that time some went behind the town of Masset to keep watch. And when the Tsimshian had almost got ashore behind Masset they shot at them. They drove the warriors away. Then the Up-inlet-gîtî'ns went to war. They killed many Tsimshian.
Afterward, when the Tsimshian came to fight, they enslaved nine of the Masset people. Then all the families again started to make war on the Tsimshian. At that time they continually killed each other.
At one time, when they went to war and had approached some who were living in a lonely place, one came out on shore wearing a grizzly-bear crest. They then thought that he was all right. They suggested making peace. The warriors returned. And the Masset people went to make peace. They then gave a great deal of property to the Masset people.
After they had started away they shot another Tsimshian. The Tsimshian then did nothing in return. They shot down the one who was going to take Lgiӓx's place without his saying a word. Then he did not want his nephew to be killed for nothing and came to make peace. That time they gave a great amount of property to him. Then there was peace again everywhere.
At that time he (Lgiӓx) felt very good and went to visit the Kaigani. After they had gone along for a while they fell into the hands of the Middle-town people, who were going to war upon the Niska. They then shot at each other. The Gîtsqoal’âte!î they completely destroyed. Nine escaped along with Lgiӓx to the woods. They also broke up five canoes. Part of the Middle-town people were also killed.
After two nights had passed the Tlingit came to him. During all that time they lived on the food which had been thrown overboard and had floated ashore. The Tlingit then carried news about Lgiӓx [to his people]. And the Tsimshian went to get him in four canoes. Then he said that he was too great to be taken away. “Do you come after me because you think that our grandfathers ever got into strange canoes? Lgiӓx does not get into a stranger’s canoe.”
He then sent word to have food brought to himself. And, after they had started away, they made a 6-fathom canoe. When it was finished he came to his town. Then the house chiefs came and danced before him.
Some time after they prepared for war. They set out. At that time the Tsimshian destroyed the fort of Sidī'kun.''’ They enslaved many of the Middle-town people. They killed then many of the renowned men of the Middle-town people.
The Middle-town people began at once to eat medicine, and did so all winter. When summer came they went to war. At that time they killed or enslaved many Tsimshian. They went up directly [among the Tlingit] to sell them. They got a lot of ammunition and guns in exchange. Then they again fortified themselves.
Some time afterward the Tsimshian came against the fort. At that time the Middle-town people went out in their canoes. They shot at each other on the ocean. Only five of the Middle-town people were killed then. But many of the Tsimshian were killed.
And, after the Tsimshian had started off, they said that they would raise their canoes. On the very next day after they had raised them they went to fight. They enslaved then very many women who were out after berries. At that time they came to the fort singing songs of victory. They remained there then on the watch.
By an bv the Tsimshian came to fight again. And again many were killed on both sides. Some time afterward they settled at K!Agā’ni.
And, after they had lived there for a while, a 3-sail canoe came. The Middle people were going to destroy it then because a man of the Eagle side who lived with them had gone to Masset and had been killed there. One of the Middle-town people then came out to talk to the Middleborn.
After it (the canoe) had approached the town for a while, the Middleborn got ready for it. And when the canoe came in front they upset it by shooting. The Middle-town people and the Middle people at once had a pitched battle outside. Some of the SalA'ndas who were neutral went to look at the canoe. Under it they found the owner of the canoe and his wife.
After they had fought and killed each other for awhile they said that Gî’tg.ax.ī’liña was killed. He was kept under some slaves, but still he was killed. Many also were wounded. When they told his grandfather, he said: " Be careful how you tell me that Gî’tg.ax.ī’liña is killed." He thought he was too great to be killed. He went then to see him sitting up. Then he turned around quickly. There was a high cliff there. He was going to throw himself over, when they seized him. Afterward, as he went crying around the fire, he dashed himself against a [white man's] anvil.
Gî’tg.ax.ī’liña’s elder brother, Î'ldjiwas,' was sitting at the time in front of his younger brother. They then stopped shooting one another. And Gî’tg.ax.ī’liña's parents got ten slaves from the house of the Middle-town people. Then Î'ldjiwas asked the Middle-town people to stay awake with [the body of] Gî’tg.ax.ī’liña. Although they had just shot at each other, they were called for it.
Then they came in a crowd. They were afraid to enter. By and by they came in. They let them stay awake there. They were ten nights in the house. All the the they gave them food. And, after they buried him, they gave property to the Middle-town people to pay for the wake. After that Î'ldjiwas started to kill the Middle-town people. Each time much property was given as blood money.
By and by NAñ-gut-tcî’ng.a went off on a vessel. After that, when a vessel came with him and they went out to trade, Gîtkudja'os approached Î'ldjiwas to kill him. NAñ-gut-tcî’ng.a said to him:
’’Take care, they are coming to kill you.” At that time Î'ldjiwas shot Gîtkudja'os alongside the vessel, so that he fell into the water.
The crowd of people who were about then fled to their homes. When all had got in he went home. They then shot at him. He escaped into his house.
The Middle-town people and the Middle people at once fought together. Then they again gave a great deal of property to each other. Some time afterward a vessel again stopped there with NAñ-gut-tcî’ng.a on board. He then remained there. After they had drunk whisky one of the Middle-town people shot at NAñ-gut-tcî’ng.a, but his gun missed fire. He, however, killed the Middle-town man. They fought again at once.
After peace had been made the father of Î'ldjiwas bought a pistol for him which was all silver. And, when he had it in his hand in front of the town, his father’s younger brother asked to look at it. At that time he told him that people could not be killed by it [but only wounded]. So he shot his father’s younger brother with it. And they again began fighting.
After that they also killed Î'ldjiwas. They wounded him. After he had remained alive for fifteen nights he held his gun loaded and said: “Now, they are coming down for me.” He then shot through the smoke hole. And he talked again. “I am going up, and I will throw down the planks that are inside his house. I will also throw down his burning coals.” Then he said: “Now, I am going up to be with him.” After he had finished speaking he was as those who go to sleep.
And, when evening was coming on, something made a slight noise in the air. Then something red fell out of the sky. It happened as he had said.
Afterward NAñ-gut-tcî’ng.a killed one of the Middle-town people, and they again had a fight. They again made peace with each other after one of the nephews of NAñ-gut-tcî’ng.a was killed. After they had given property to him, NAñ-gut-tcî’ng.a went away and settled among the Tsimshian. His nephews lived at K!Agā’ni.
At that time a youth, Sg.ā'gia, lived with Sg.atc!îdā'łgîñ, who took care of him. Then he treated Sg.ā'gia badly. Getting angry with him, he drew blood. And two nights afterward he killed Sg.atc!îdā'łgîñ. He then took his three slaves. When he was going to kill his wife also she used good words to him. He went away in his canoe.
He then passed right by in front of K!Agā’ni. He crossed the sea. He went to Tc!ā'ał. Sg.a'gia’s gun was heard to sound at Kaisun as he came along. And, when he landed and stood among them, he related his adventure.
All that summer, while they were fishing for black cod, he kept a watch for war people. After they had caught salmon, they moved to Skidegate inlet.
When we camped for the night [we heard] a Tsimshian named Xagu'n of the Gîtgwî'lgiaodjî who had enslaved some Pebble-people, sing songs of victory in front of us.
Some who were returning home from Skidegate were enslaved by the Tsimshian. We then carried the news to Skidegate. At that time we started to live at Xā'na. They then asked property of us on account of what we had done to the Tsimshian. After that, when we were living at Kaisun, more news came. They said that some canoes had been destroyed in Skidegate passage. Part of the people were enslaved also. It happened to three families. They did it to the Gîtî'ns’-servants, Those-born-at-Stasa'os, and Those-born-at-Pebbletown. The Tlingit were the ones who did it. When we came to Xa'na Those-born-at-House-point asked property of us for some who had been captured. Then they first gave us property. After that we also gave them property. When we came to Tcla'al Those-born-at-Stasa'os also asked blood money of us. We also gave to them blood money.
After that the Ninstints people invited the people of Kaisun. The Kaisun people went thither at once. And. after they had been there for a while, they went after house planks. The Ninstints people went out also to fish near by. Some time afterward they discovered enemies. The Bellabella destroyed or enslaved those who were out fishing. At that time the Bellabella killed many of the Ninstints people. They also enslaved many of the Sand-town people of high rank. Then they at once stopped getting the parts of the house. Things went badly. We went away immediately.
John Swanton. Haida Texts and Myths. Government Printing Office. 1905.
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