One of the peoples of the Northwest Coast Indian s living in the Skeena and Nass river area in west-central British Columbia, Can.
, and southern Alaska, U.S. The Tsimshian dialects belong to the family of Penutian languages . The traditional economy was based on fishing, with some hunting in winter. Large winter houses, made of wood and often carved and painted, symbolized family wealth. Descent was traced through the maternal line. Lineages functioned largely independently, but all participated in major ceremonies and in warfare. Various important events were marked by a potlatch . At the turn of the 21st century the Tsimshian numbered in the thousands.