All Nisga'a are members of one of four pdeek. The four pdeek in the Nass Valley are Ganada, Laxibuu, Gisk'aast, and Laxgiik. Each pdeek is identified by its two major crests:
Nisga'a boys and girls become members of their mother's pdeek as soon as they are born. In this way a pdeek is like a wilp. But there are important differences between a wilp and a pdeek.
A pdeek is made up of many huwilp and is much larger. Although the members of a pdeek may be descended from common ancestors they can not trace their descent to one historcal woman the same way the members of a wilp can. The members of a pdeek are related because a long, long time ago they shared some common history.
When a chief hosts a feast he usually gets help not just from his wilp but from his whold pdeek.
Members of the same pdeek can not marry each other
One of the most important rules to remember about pdeek is that members of the same pdeek may not marry one another. This is even true if one of the people are not Nisga'a
In the past, when a coupl broke this rule they were k'aats. This means they were shunned bye everyone in the village, even members of their own families. This made it very difficult for themselves and their families to trade with other Nisga'a. People said children of these illegal marriages would not be normal. People who were kaats could not become a sim'oogit or sigidimnake'. By 1995, some excetions wer being made.
Each Sim'oogit Has a Rank In His Pdeek
Every wilp is in order of rank in its pdeek. What this means is that some simgigat in a pdeek have more authority than others. The amount of authority a sim'oogit has can change. It can increase or decrease.
Authority is based on respect. The more respect people have for a sim'oogit the more authority he has. A sim'oogit needs the respect of his own wilp because his strength is based on its support. If the members of his wilp do not respect him they might give him less support.
A sim'oogit's authority grows each time he gives a feast. By hosting a feast he learns more about the responsibilities of his wilp and about the strengths it might have.
A sim'oogit needs the respect of the other simgigat. The more respect they show him the more authority he has in his pdeek. He gains their respect by giving feasts and by taking his place at other feasts and public events in the valley. By meeting these responsibilities he shows the strength of his wilp.
People respects a sim'oogit who speaks with strength and wisdom. Because wiealth is a sign of strength they respect a sim'oogit who is wealthy. They also have more respect for sim'oogit who comes from a strong family.
A sim'oogit gains respect by performing great deeds. To be respected a sim'oogit needs to lead a "clean" life.
If a sim'oogit lives a clean life, is not mean to his people, speaks and acts with wisdom and does not break Nisga'a laws, his authority will always grow over the years. A sim'oogit with a lot of authority is said to have a "strong" name.
New Sim'oogit
A man becomes a sim'oogit when he inherits the top ranking name in his wilp. Although the new sim'oogit inherits the sim'oogit's name he does not inherit all the strength the name hud under the previous sim'oogit. A new sim'oogit needs to prove he is a good lead3er and that his wilp will support him before he can gain the respect of the other simgigat.
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