Laxgalts’ap Cultural Dancers

In front are the warrior drummers performing, behind are the men
drummers doing a drum drill.
Photo contributed by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Moore

The Parent Organization for above Cultural Dancers is the "Laxgalts’ap Heritage & Cultural Society" and is properly registered under the Societies Act of British Columbia.

The Four Main purposes of the Society are:

1. To research, revive, secure, nurture and promote as much of the Nisga’a art forms, including the totemic design, drawings and carvings, tribal songs & prose, traditional drumming/dancing, and Tribal wear and regalia, as possible.
   
2. To support and enable the effective transfer of all knowledge relevant to the foregoing to residents or any Nisga’a who specifically requests such knowledge.
   
3. To nurture personal and collective attitudes, aptitudes, initiatives and spirit which will ultimately result in effective individual, group, family and community development.
   
4. To provide good networking facility with similar organizations, governments and other support agencies in the interests of best achieving the organization’s objectives.
   

Profile of the Laxgalts’ap Cultural Dancers

Photo contributed by Mr. & Mrs. Bill Moore

The above Dance Group is one of the most recently organized groups within the Nisga’a Nation. It was formed in April of 1996 prior to the AGM of the nation that year. The group was formed primarily under the leadership of Sim’oogit Hlayimwil – Chief Chester Moore.

The venue for development and growth for the dance & drum group has largely been the central gathering place, Recreation Center in the village of Laxgalts’ap. The village is located in west central British Columbia or in an area frequently referred to as North Coastal B.C.

The group became out of presentations and preliminary organization of certain individuals from the village government with the support of chieftains & matriarchs.

The group numbers anywhere from 70 to 125, and is composed of basically four groups:

1. Warrior Drummers
2. Warriors
3. Women Singers & Dancers
4. Elders from the community

The Drummers are young men; Warriors are young boys aged 10 to 14; and the Lady Singers/Dancers are women and young girls.

Photo contributed by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Moore.

As an example of the articulation and precision the group puts into their performances, in their debut year in 1996, the group participated in the Prince Rupert Sea Fest Parade, and won First Prize; the Terrace River Boat Days Parade, and also they won First Prize for All Around Proficiency.

The Long Term Goal of the Laxgalts’ap Cultural Dancers organization is to ‘completely reverse the sad history alluded to in the opening paragraphs and to show the world that the Nisga’a Culture, Language, and Arts is alive, well and on the increase.’

The group Leader Mr. Chester Moore, in 1996 designed a Show Canoe with painted designs & art forms of the nation on both hulls of the canoe.

Photo contributed by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Moore.