Our Animals

Explore knowledge, words, images and teaching about our animals.

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In the spirit of language reclamation and preservation, use the “listen” function throughout this site to hear the X̄á’islakala language pronounced out loud.

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Our Ways of Knowing and Being

We believe that animals should never be mistreated, for we share our traditional territories with them, as did our ancestors. We have lived in harmony with these creatures since time immemorial, and will continue to do so into the future.

A stylized illustration of a sun above a landscape with trees, houses, and canoes, transitioning to an airplane above water with fish and a whale.
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Treasure Our Language

Language revitalization and preservation is very important to us. Treasure X̄á’islakala, learn about the words related to our animals, and how they are pronounced by our fluent speakers. We thank Chris Wilson for sharing his knowledge.

For access to a more extensive collection of vocabulary, visit the Haisla LanguageCloud living dictionary.

A document is also available with tips on hearing the sounds and sound combinations of x̄á’islak̓ala, so that you are able to speak, learn, and write-out the language more easily and accurately.

X̄á’islakala Reading and Writing Tips

Listen to Our Honouring Animals Song

We have been passing on our stories and teachings through song since time immemorial. This song came to composer Shelley Bolton in a dream about speaking for those that don’t have a voice.

‘ík̓ix’id henéms sísakʷimas
Honouring the Animals Song
By Shelley Bolton

Person in traditional attire, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and holding an item, stands indoors with another similarly dressed person partially visible behind.

Enjoy Honouring Animals Song with Dancing

Our Honouring Animals Song is performed by Haisla Braid Group, as they bring many animals to life, from the duck to the Sasquatch! Singing, dancing and drumming honour our heritage and our oral tradition.

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Enjoy Our Gallery of Images

Learn more from our art and photographs. We thank Chris Wilson for sharing his knowledge.

Click to enlarge and read more.

A bear stands on a rocky riverbank, partially obscured by leafy branches and foliage.

A bear meandering along the river bank searching for food.

A bald eagle with outstretched wings soaring above a forested area.

An eagle soaring by the mountains and above the waters in Kemano.

A group of birds, including bald eagles, perched on and around fallen trees by a water's edge in a bare, wooded area.

So many eagles gather on the banks of the Skeena River - another sure sign of oolichan season!

A tray of golden-brown fried fish laid out on a cooling rack in a kitchen setting.

Fried oolichans, what a treat! We love them freshly caught, smoked, fried - so many ways to enjoy!

A pile of small, raw fish closely packed together, displaying a mix of gray and silver scales with some fish's eyes visibly facing upward.

Oolichan, or “saviour” fish, is our sign that spring has arrived - and we are so glad!

A flock of birds takes flight from a sandy beach with a dense forest in the background. There is driftwood on the beach and some birds still on the ground.

Seagulls swoop and then hover over the water. Like us, they are anticipating the arrival of the oolichan.

A school of fish swimming underwater above a rocky seabed.

Here is a shot underwater of oolichan beginning their journey up the Kemano River. It is harvesting time!

A seal's head pokes out above the water, surrounded by rippling green water.

A playful seal in Kemano Bay enjoys watching us as much as we enjoy watching him!

A group of sea lions rests on rocky shore near a forested area beside calm water.

These sea lions are sunning together on the rock for thermoregulation, to keep their bodies at a temperature constant in water.

Four sea lions swim close together in the water, their heads above the surface. The water ripples around them.

Sea lions are large marine mammals known as pinnipeds, which means "fin-footed”. Here they are swimming in the Skeena River, a sign the oolichan are coming!

Two mountain goats on a rocky hillside with sparse vegetation and trees, blending with the terrain. The goats are positioned apart, navigating the rugged landscape.

The surefooted mountain goat traversing the mountainside on Kemano, looking for a treat of lichen or moss.

A tranquil scene featuring a peaceful forested shoreline with four white birds flying over the water and a few fallen trees scattered on the shore.

Up in Kemano, swans are in flight over the spit of land separating the Kemano River and the Wax̄oox̄ River.

Listen to Our Stories About Animals

Enjoy a recording of Shelley Bolton as she reads the story “yudexʷs wi’esems sasems hím̓as gitx̄ʷen gi ’ulemaax̄a kʷikʷenaqax̄i / Three Sons of Chief Gitxwen Mistreat A Frog.” This is a lesson story from Haisla, We Are Our History.

yúdexʷs wí’esems sásems hím̓as gitx̄ʷén gi ‘ulemáax̄ kʷíkʷenaqax̄i
Three Sons of Chief Gitxwen Mistreat A Frog
Recounted by Shelley Bolton

Enjoy a recording of this short story called “winásus ’ebúkʷs saak / Attacked By A Mama Grizzly!” Elder Fluent Speaker, Franklin (Jack) Nelson tells the story in X̄á’islakala, while Jonathan Janzen and Chuck Murphey transcribed it so you can follow along!

winásus ’ebúkʷs saak
Attacked By A Mama Grizzly!
Recounted by Elder Franklin (Jack) Nelson

X̄á’islakala and English Transcript
haisla-heritage-our-animals-story

Watch to Learn More About Animals

Enjoy Oolichan Education Module 2 called “zázaw̓a, ’ax̄ záx̄ʷeni / Oolichan Arrival Signs.” Many X̄á’isla community members, including our Elders and Knowledge Keepers, share their knowledge about animals and their behaviour on the river during the oolichan run in early spring.

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