Preserving Our Heritage: The Gitxsan Youth Movement Society's Urgent Mission
Dear Guardians of Indigenous Youth,
You are the heart of GYMS. Like caring spirits, you come forward with your time, money, and kindness when our youth and Elders need help. You pay honoraria, mentor young leaders, run workshops, share skills, and follow community rules with respect. You also share our posts on social media to help more people learn. Because of you, videos are recorded, the language is heard, and our culture is kept alive.
Building from the Ground Up – The Gitxsan Youth Movement Society
The world has changed drastically since the late 90s. With global events and shifts in our communities, the ways we connect with our culture have evolved significantly. At the Gitxsan Youth Movement Society (GYMS), we are embracing this new era. We are a community-driven organization dedicated to empowering Indigenous youth—both on and off the Indian reserve—through cultural preservation, education, and personal development. Our mission is simple but vital: To Honour, Embrace, and Empower Gitxsan.
Our Journey
Founded in 1998 as a pilot project aimed at supporting our youth, we were initially taken over by the Gitanmaax Band and rebranded as the Gitxsan Nation Youth. In January 2026, we reactivated our efforts to ensure our young leaders can thrive in a supportive and culturally rich environment. Unfortunately, many of our Elders have passed away, leaving very few fluent language speakers among us. This makes our work to preserve the Sim'algyax language and our traditions more urgent than ever.
The Power of Volunteerism
We are often asked about our resources. The truth is, we currently operate with zero core funding. Every single person on our team—including those who are employed elsewhere—is a volunteer. We are doing a phenomenal job with what we have. With very few tools, our team has already produced meaningful videos on our language, traditional harvesting, and introductions to the faces behind this movement. We are working with what we have to achieve greatness because we know the future of our culture depends on our collective action.
Carrying the Work Forward
This is not the beginning of the work; it is another generation carrying it forward. The preservation of Sim'algyax and our traditions is a collective effort that spans generations. Many Chiefs and Elders have forged the way to save our language, traditions, and culture—founders Chief Woo’sim’lax’ha Peggy Morgan and Chief Gakxl Verney "Barney" Morgan laid the foundation for GYMS. Today, as we honor their legacy, we recognize the urgency of our mission. We must act swiftly to document and share our Elders' teachings, ensuring that our language and heritage remain accessible for future generations.
Join the Movement
We're growing fast, and we are looking for passionate voices to help lead the way to success. We are currently expanding our Board of Directors (ages 18 to 35) and building for long-term sustainability. If you are passionate about cultural preservation and youth empowerment, we invite you to join our Board of Directors or volunteer with us. Your voice, energy, and passion are vital to our success. Contact us!
Stephanie Morgan, Founder and Program Director
