The Origin of Azziza

  In a remote corner of Northwestern British Columbia, in the land of the Tahltan People, there is a volcano, this volcano is the largest of a complex of cinder cones that formed a plateau that over centuries was carved by the Stikine River into a Grande Canyon.  The volcano gave life to the Tahltan people in many aspects, the Obsidian  that came from this volcano provided them meat and warmth in the winter from the animals whose flesh and hide would feed and nourish through the harsh winters, the trade of the obsidian would be their staple currency in trade on their coastal and inland trade routes.

The word Aa[dzi]zaa, in Tahltan, is the sound that the rocks of the volcano make under your feet, my family are people that have walked this volcano complex for thousands of years, collecting its obsidian.

The names Edzerza, Etzertza, Edziza, Assadza, are all family names written in english from the Native Tahltan tongue, whose origins come from this volcano, referred to today in Canada as Mt.Edziza.The Azziza brand name came from the family names that have been written on paper whose origin comes from this volcano; Assadza, Edzerza, Etzerza, Edziza, the annunciation of the origin, as is usually the case, lost in translation.  The Label AZZIZA is in recognition of our ancestors, whose names and knowledge of this land we carry fourth.

MT.Edziza photograph by AGOUTA (George Edzerza)