According to Gitksan history, Damelahamid is the original city where our first ancestors were put on earth from heaven. Our dance group is named after this city. Since time immemorial Gitksan songs have been performed in the feast hall and played an integral part in defining art and culture. Irene Harris was the last in our lineage to experience a traditional upbringing within the feast system. She witnessed the banning of the Potlatch and lived to see the culture revived in the 1960s when our family established the Dancers of Damelahamid. Irene taught the ancient dance traditions to her son Ken Harris who upheld these traditions throughout his lifetime. In 1987, the group moved for the first time from the area of Damelahamid, along the Skeena River to Vancouver, BC.

  Since 2004, under the leadership of Ken’s daughter Margaret Grenier, our group has transitioned to a professional dance company that has self produced several theatre based productions, three in six years, while asserting time honoured practices. Our performances give recognition to the distinctiveness and time depth of our many Indigenous cultures across Canada. Excellence is achieved through collaboration of artistry with guest dance artists, sound designers and graphic artists.