First Nations in British Columbia
Encyclopedia
First Nations in British Columbia constitute a large number of First Nations
governments and peoples in the province of British Columbia
. Many of these Canadian aboriginal peoples
are affiliated in tribal councils
. Ethnic groups include the Haida, Coast Salish
, Kwakwaka'wakw
, Gitxsan
, Tsimshian
, Nisga'a
and other examples of the Pacific Northwest Coast cultures
, and also various Interior Salish
and Athapaskan peoples, and also the Ktunaxa.
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
governments and peoples in the province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Many of these Canadian aboriginal peoples
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
are affiliated in tribal councils
Tribal Council
A Tribal Council is either: an association of Native American bands in the United States or First Nations governments in Canada, or the governing body for certain tribes within the United States or elsewhere...
. Ethnic groups include the Haida, Coast Salish
Coast Salish
Coast Salish languages are a subgroup of the Salishan language family. These languages are spoken by First Nations or Native American peoples inhabiting the territory that is now the southwest coast of British Columbia around the Strait of Georgia and Washington state around Puget Sound...
, Kwakwaka'wakw
Kwakwaka'wakw
The Kwakwaka'wakw are an Indigenous group of First Nations peoples, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the adjoining mainland and islands.Kwakwaka'wakw translates as "Those who speak Kwak'wala", describing the collective nations within the area that...
, Gitxsan
Gitxsan
Gitxsan are an indigenous people whose home territory comprises most of the area known as the Skeena Country in English...
, Tsimshian
Tsimshian
The Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000...
, Nisga'a
Nisga'a
The Nisga’a , often formerly spelled Nishga and spelled in the Nisga’a language as Nisga’a, are an Indigenous nation or First Nation in Canada. They live in the Nass River valley of northwestern British Columbia. Their name comes from a combination of two Nisga’a words: Nisk’-"top lip" and...
and other examples of the Pacific Northwest Coast cultures
Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast
The Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, their descendants, and many ethnic groups who identify with those historical peoples. They are now situated within the Canadian Province of British Columbia and the U.S...
, and also various Interior Salish
Interior Salish
The Interior Salish languages are one of the two main subgroups of the Salishan language family, the other being Coast Salish. It can be further subdivided into Northern and Southern Interior Salish...
and Athapaskan peoples, and also the Ktunaxa.
First Nations of the Lower Mainland
- Sts'AilesSts'AilesThe Sts'ailes are a First Nations people in the Lower Mainland of the Canadian province of British Columbia. They are a Halqemeylem-speaking people but are distinct historically and politically from the surrounding Sto:lo peoples...
(Chehalis)/ Chehalis Indian Band - Musqueam First Nation
- Katzie/Katzie First NationKatzie First NationThe Katzie are an Indigenous people of the Lower Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada. The Katzie historically spoke Halqemeylem, the Upriver Dialect of Halkomelem, one of the Coast Salish family of languages. They are part of the Sto:lo group of peoples, historically referred to as the...
- Tsawwassen First NationTsawwassen First NationThe Tsawwassen First Nation is a First Nations government whose only Indian reserve is located in the Greater Vancouver area of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, adjacent to the South Arm of the Fraser River and the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and just north of the international...
- SemiahmooSemiahmoo peopleThe Semiahmoo are a Coast Salish Native America people in southwestern British Columbia in Canada.- History :The Semiahmoo are more closely related to the Lummi and Samish peoples south of the international border, and to the Lekwammen and T'sou-ke across the Strait of Georgia, than they are to...
Semiahmoo First NationSemiahmoo First NationSemiahmoo First Nation is the band government of the Semiahmoo people, a Coast Salish subgroup. The band's main community and offices are located on of Indian Reserved just south of White Rock, British Columbia and near the Canada-United States boundary and Peace Arch Provincial Park.-... - Tsleil-Waututh First NationTsleil-Waututh First NationThe Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, also known as the Burrard Indian Band or Burrard Band, is a First Nations government in the Canadian Province of British Columbia...
(Burrard Band) - Kwikwetlem First NationKwikwetlem First NationThe Kwikwetlem First Nation, also known as the Coquitlam Indian Band, is the band government of the Kwikwetlem people, a Sto:lo people living in the Coquitlam area of British Columbia, Canada. They traditionally speak the Downriver dialect of Halkomelem, one of the Salishan family of languages...
(Coquitlam Indian Band)
External links
- First Nations, Land Rights and Environmentalism in British Columbia German website that uses visual representations to support Aboriginal Title and Rights.
- Government of British Columbia's list of First Nations, Bands, and Tribal Councils
- Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC: government-sponsored website that promotes aboriginal culture in the context of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.