Emma Nelson

Emma Nelson (née Starr; 1854 – June 27, 1959) was a matriarch of the Gisbutwada (Killer Whale) house of the Kitsumkalum Tribe of the Tsimshian Nation, in British Columbia, Canada. She contributed significantly to the development of the Terrace, British Columbia area.

Role in the Community Emma Nelson worked in local salmon canneries during the fishing season, contributing to her family's livelihood. They operated a general store in Kitsumkalum, helping to establish the Terrace area as a growing settlement. Despite their significant contributions, their roles have often been overlooked in traditional settler histories. The renaming was part of reconciliation efforts acknowledging Indigenous histories and their foundational roles in the region's development.