Adaawak, Ayukws & Land

Many adaawak tell about people who met supernatural beings. These adaawak tell how the wilp came to won the land, crests, songs and other rights it owns to this day.

Gwingyoo and Dragon Lake

Sim'oogit Gwingyoo is a Gtiwilnaak'il Laxgibuu chief from Gitlaxt'aamiks. Long ago one of his ancestors saw a very strange monster in T'aam Ginlaaxw (Dragon Lake). The monster was a supernatural being that had come to the lake from the spirit world.

Nisga'a believe that because the monster was from the spirit world, Sim'oogit Gwingyoo became joined in a special way to the spirit world at that place.

This special joining gives Sim'oogit Gwingyoo and his wilp special rights to Dragon Lake. This adaawak is what makes Dragon Lake part the traditional lands of Gwingyoo.

Ayukws, Adaawak and Land - A Summary

Every Nisga'a crest comes from an adaawak. Often, the adaawak is about a meeting with a supernatural being. This adaawak gives the wilp the rights to land and / or other properties. The adaawak, and the rights that go with it, are remembered with an ayukws.

See a slide show of Nisga'a Artifacts

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