7. History of the Da'naxda'xw
The Da’naxda’xw, the sixth ranked tribe among the
Kwakwaka’wakw were also divided into groups called
‘na’mima, meaning “of one kind”, individuals
belonging to a single ‘na’mima were called
‘na’mimut or ‘na’mima fellows’. These were
the ultimate units binding its members together by strict social
obligations. Individuals were ranked within the ‘na’mima,
consisting of the head chiefs, commoners and their families. Head
chiefs are responsible for the conservation and management of the
resources in his ‘na’mima’s territory, in return he
receives a share of the goods harvested. Not only were the positions
within a ‘na’mima ranked but also each ‘na’mima
had ranking within the tribe.
The Da’naxda’xw ‘na’mima are listed below:
“the sandstone ones”
`Kam`kamtalal (the Song Dancer’s)
Gi’xsam (Chief)
`Kwe`kwa’inuxw
Yae’xagame’
`Pe`pat’lenuxw
K’ank’aenuxw
T’su`tsana
The Da’naxda’xw list Dzawadi as their point of origin. Most
points of origin are listed in the upper Knight Inlet territories.
They were very closely related to A’wa’etlala.
In fact they joined with them circa 1860 after Wakas was destroyed
by fire. Their combined settlement was at Kwatsi. In 1891 they moved
to the village site of Tsadzis'nukame' on Harbledown island.
Like many other Kwakwaka’wakw tribes the Da’naxda’xw
also experienced their share of war fare. The following excerpt is
from Kwakiutl Ethnography edited by Helen Codere:
A few accounts of war expeditions will give a better impression of
what actually happened. The following is a record of a long war
between the Bella Coola and several Kwakiutl tribes. The first
account was given to me in 1890 by a Bella Coola Indian. About 1840
or 1850 there was a famine in Bella Coola. The people went overland
to Knight Inlet, the country of the Da’naxda’xw, to fish
there. The Da’naxda’xw permitted them to fish but made fun
of them. They took away the fish they had caught, tore the blankets
from the backs of the women, and raped them. In the fall, the Bella
Coola went back home. Then they held a council and decided to make
war on the Da’naxda’xw. The Chilcotin and Carrier joined
their expectation. They crossed the mountains in four days. When they
approached Knight Inlet, they sent two spies ahead, who were to
report on the location of the village and the number of houses. Early
in the morning they attached the Da’naxda’xw, who could not
escape because they were hemmed in by the river. The Bella Coola slew
them with knives, lances, and stone axes. In relation for the
indignities suffered by their wives and daughters, they took away the
clothes of the Da’naxda’xw women and subjected them to
shameful insults, giving them vaginal enemas of oil and raping them.
When the McKenna McBride Royal Commission came through in 1914 Chief
Hamseet addressed the Commission about the Da’naxda’xw lands.
I am glad to meet you today my heart has been cheered for the past
three days since you have been here. Why I am so glad the Commission
is coming because of the troubles I have with my lands where they
are. We are the Tanockteuch (Da’naxda’xw) people and we are
the people that own Tsawati (Dzawadi). What the other Indians have
said is all done- that is, they all have a part for the fishing
places up there for the oolachans. They take part in the fishing for
the oolachans at that place. Those words are done. I am, my people
are like a watchman for the other tribes- to be there and watch and
let them know when the oolachans fish come when they come I tell them
to go there for that purpose.
There was a time long ago when my forefathers did not see a white man
in the country. They never seen one- my forefathers, and they never
talked about seeing a white man in the country, and we believe that
we are owners of that country from our forefathers down to the
present time. Mr.Halliday knows that this country up there belongs to
us and he knows also that it is dear to us&ldots; I ask for 200 acres
for each man of us to be chosen from the places on that list which I
have just handed to you, and I ask for the place called Tsatisnukomi
(T’sadzis’nukwame’) to be reserved to us in addition
to our places up Knight Inlet.
Today the Da’naxda’xw are one of the many Kwakwaka’wakw
tribes currently going through the treaty process to settle their
Land Claim. Some members have also made the decision to relocate back
to the village of Tsadzis'nukame' and have been installing the
necessary infra structure to support their community as well as
building homes there.
Source(s) U'mista
