Dance, Drumming, Song
The Nisg̱a’a, like many other First Nations, almost lost many of our songs and dances when the government banned Potlatches and other components of our traditional culture. Today, a Nisg̱a’a cultural renaissance is under way. Groups like the Gitlax̱t’aamiks Ceremonial Dancers from New Aiyansh, the Four Crest Dancers from Gitwinksihlkw, the Lax̱g̱alts’ap Cultural Dancers from Lax̱g̱alts’ap, and the Ging̱olx Cultural Dancers from Ging̱olx celebrate Nisg̱a’a dance and tradition at Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural events throughout the Northwest, Canada, and around the world.
Our dance groups have become a role model for other First Nations and play an important part in public education. The regalia worn by the dancers is red and black. Men usually wear black with red. Black is symbolic of the darkness that was upon the Earth before the appearance of the sunlight. The red is symbolic of the sun and the life that is brought by the sun. Women wear red with black as they are the givers of life.