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NA-NA-KWA

Dawn oy THe Norruwest Coast.

KITAMAAT B. C.

APRIL. 1900

CHIEF JESSEA’S OLD TRIBAL HOUSE.

There are two Kitamaat villages, the
old and the new, the summer and winter.
At the new or winter village the houses
are neat, modern, built of lumber, The
old village is four miles distant from
the mission andone mile up from the
mouth of the Kitamaat river, there the
houses are all of the above type, they
are all of cedar, varying in size.

Jessea’s house was built 30 years ago
by Walter (Lahdouh) of the beaver crest.
All the friendly totemie clans were em-
ployed preparing the material and build-
ing. The women leveled the ground
and dug the post holes, When all was
completed the men were paid from 10 to

15 blankets, according to work done,
and the women received for their labor
print and ealico from Towahwhisilax
sister of Lahdonh. After occupying the
house for two years, according to ancient
usage he deeded it to Jessea the chief of
the beavers who is also head chief of all
the Kitamaats. Chief Jessea has another
house more recently built and of modern
appearance, which was built by Mark
Morrison (Nokamoih) who also occupied.
it then deeded it according to the custom
of the people to head chief Jessea. Jere-
miah (Weyarkey) is the son of Mark
Morrison and successor to the chieftain
ship of Jessea,