June is National Indigenous People’s History Month. In hopes to encourage education and exploration about the rich and diverse Indigenous cultures on Vancouver Island and across British Columbia, here are some resources on the three main First Nations groups on Vancouver Island: Nuu-chah-nulth; The Coast Salish; and Kwakwakaw’akw people.
The 14 Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations are divided into three regions:
- Southern Region: Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht, Hupacasath, Tse-shaht, and Uchucklesaht
- Central Region: Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht, and Yuu-cluth-aht
- Northern Region: Ehattesaht, Kyuquot/Cheklesaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht, and Nuchatlaht
The Coast Salish First Nations on Vancouver Island include:
- Southern Region: Cowichan, Esquimalt Nation, Halalt, Malahat, Pauquachin, Sc’ianew (Beecher Bay), Songhees, Tsoukenation, Wsanec: Tsawout, Tsartlip, Ttseycum,
- Northern Region: Homalco, K’ómoks, Klahoose, Tlaaminnation
- Central Region: Qualicum, Penelakut, Snawnawas, Snuneymuxw, Stzuminus,
There are many more Coast Salish First Nations across BC and the Northwestern US. Learn more HERE.
The Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw tribes on Vancouver Island include:
Northern Region: Kwakiutl, Mama̱liliḵa̱la, Namgis, Maamtagila, Quatsino, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum
There are other Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw tribes across BC, you can learn more HERE.
The following is an excerpt from umista.ca/pages/kwakwakawakw:
“Ever since the white people first came to our lands, we have been known as the Kwakkewlths by Indian Affairs or as the Kwakiutl by anthropologists. In fact we are the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, people who speak Kwakʼwala, but who live in different places and have different names for our separate groups.
Some of the tribes of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw have disappeared, among them the A̱ʼwa̱ʼetła̱la of Knight Inlet, the Nakamgalisala of Hope Island, the Yutlinux of Cox and Lanz Islands. A few of the groups died out, while some amalgamated with other groups. Some of the villages have been abandoned for years.”
New video series uplifts wisdom of K’ómoks and Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw cultures.
Interview series hosted by Kumugwe Cultural Society looks at culture, environment and more through voices of Elders and other ‘wise ones’. Read article and check out the series HERE.
