Klemtu is an unincorporated community on Swindle Island in the coastal fjords of British Columbia, Canada. It is located on Kitasoo Indian Reserve No. 1.[1]

Klemtu, British Columbia
The Big House in Klemtu

Klemtu is the home of the Kitasoo tribe of Tsimshians, originally from Kitasu Bay, and the Xai'xais of Kynoch Inlet,[2] extends eastward from Queen Charlotte Sound, approximately at 52°46′03″N 128°06′25″W / 52.767462°N 128.10688°W / 52.767462; -128.10688. It is adjacent to the Fiordland Conservancy. These two tribes live together as, and are jointly governed by, the Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation. Traditional languages spoken at Klemtu are the southern dialect of the Tsimshian language, called Southern Tsimshian, and Xaixais, a dialect of the Heiltsuk language. In religious affiliation, the community is dominated by the United Church of Canada.

The government of the Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation is a member government of the Oweekeno-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council.

The population of Klemtu in 1983 was 269. As of 2007 the population of Klemtu was 505.

Name origin

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An alternate older name for Klemtu is Kitasoo.[3] it was also known as China Hat due to the shape of Cone Island, which protects it from the open water. The name Klemtu is from the Coast Tsimshian language "Klemdoo-oolk," meaning "impassable".[4]

Climate

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Climate data for Boat Bluff[a] (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 15.1 12.2 17.6 21.1 27.5 30.1 36.2 30.5 27.9 23.4 13.3 12.0 36.2
Record high °C (°F) 18.0
(64.4)
17.0
(62.6)
20.0
(68.0)
25.5
(77.9)
31.5
(88.7)
33.5
(92.3)
32.5
(90.5)
33.0
(91.4)
30.0
(86.0)
21.0
(69.8)
16.5
(61.7)
15.5
(59.9)
33.5
(92.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 6.0
(42.8)
6.6
(43.9)
8.3
(46.9)
10.9
(51.6)
14.1
(57.4)
16.6
(61.9)
18.7
(65.7)
19.0
(66.2)
16.2
(61.2)
11.7
(53.1)
7.6
(45.7)
5.8
(42.4)
11.8
(53.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.6
(38.5)
3.9
(39.0)
5.3
(41.5)
7.4
(45.3)
10.4
(50.7)
12.9
(55.2)
14.7
(58.5)
15.1
(59.2)
12.8
(55.0)
9.0
(48.2)
5.2
(41.4)
3.6
(38.5)
8.7
(47.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.2
(34.2)
1.2
(34.2)
2.2
(36.0)
3.9
(39.0)
6.6
(43.9)
9.0
(48.2)
10.8
(51.4)
11.1
(52.0)
9.4
(48.9)
6.4
(43.5)
2.9
(37.2)
1.4
(34.5)
5.5
(41.9)
Record low °C (°F) −16.0
(3.2)
−17.5
(0.5)
−14.0
(6.8)
−1.0
(30.2)
−1.0
(30.2)
4.0
(39.2)
5.5
(41.9)
6.5
(43.7)
4.0
(39.2)
−7.6
(18.3)
−20.2
(−4.4)
−14.0
(6.8)
−20.2
(−4.4)
Record low wind chill −18 −15 −10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 −11 −21 −21
Average precipitation mm (inches) 601.9
(23.70)
428.5
(16.87)
428.4
(16.87)
389.1
(15.32)
257.7
(10.15)
226.2
(8.91)
179.8
(7.08)
231.4
(9.11)
366.0
(14.41)
631.8
(24.87)
677.8
(26.69)
628.1
(24.73)
5,046.7
(198.71)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 574.5
(22.62)
400.3
(15.76)
414.6
(16.32)
386.9
(15.23)
257.7
(10.15)
226.2
(8.91)
179.8
(7.08)
231.4
(9.11)
366.0
(14.41)
630.0
(24.80)
670.1
(26.38)
606.2
(23.87)
4,943.7
(194.64)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 27.4
(10.8)
28.3
(11.1)
13.9
(5.5)
2.3
(0.9)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
1.9
(0.7)
7.6
(3.0)
21.9
(8.6)
103.3
(40.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 23.3 19.6 22.9 21.4 19.7 17.8 16.7 17.4 19.4 24.7 24.9 24.9 252.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 4.0 3.7 3.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 2.0 4.2 18.5
Source: Environment Canada[5]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Boat Bluff is located approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of Klemtu.

References

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  1. ^ "Klemtu". BC Geographical Names.
  2. ^ Kynoch Inlet
  3. ^ "Kitasoo". BC Geographical Names.
  4. ^ "Klemtu". BC Geographical Names.
  5. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data". September 25, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
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Bibliography

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  • Inglis, Gordon B., et al. (1990) "Tsimshians of British Columbia since 1900." In Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 7: Northwest Coast, pp. 285–293. Washington: Smithsonian Institution.
  • Miller, Jay (1981) "Moieties and Cultural Amnesia: Manipulation of Knowledge in a Pacific Northwest Coast Native Community," Arctic Anthropology, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 23–32.
  • Miller, Jay (1982) "Tsimshian Moieties and Other Clarifications," Northwest Anthropological Research Notes, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 148–164.

52°35′N 128°32′W / 52.583°N 128.533°W / 52.583; -128.533