British Columbia First Nations

Brief History of the Coast Salish
The term “Coast Salish” is a designation which includes many tribes and bands in British Columbia and beyond. It refers to a cultural group rather than a single tribe. These culturally similar groups occupied both sides of Puget Sound in present day Washington state, extending northward on both sides of the Georgia Strait into British Columbia, and east to the coastal mountains. Population estimates before first contact are unreliable. The diseases introduced to the native races by the Europeans traveled across the continent and afflicted these tribes before first contact. While it is not known how these diseases effected the population before first contact, it is estimated that smallpox epidemics in the 1800's reduced the population by two thirds. Fur traders established forts from the mouth of the Columbia River northward in the early 1800’s. By the 1820’s, the Hudson’s Bay Company was exploring the area and established Ft Victoria in 1843. The establishment of Fort Victoria, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, brought drastic change to the inhabitants of the area. They were offered employment by the company. Many of them moved to the area around the fort, disrupting traditional cultural and lifestyle activities. In 1846, the Treaty of Washington divided the area into British and American territories. The closely related tribes of the Coast Salish fell under different political systems. The Canadian government created small, local reserves. The American government created large, consolidated reservations. The first schools were established by missionaries. They began as day schools. By the late 1800s and into the 1900s, the schools were residential. Although the missionaries retained the management of the schools until the early 1900’s,the federal government was responsible for funding. The Coast Salish are presently organized into tribal councils to more efficiently provide services to their members.

Brief History of the Interior Salish
“Interior Salish” is a designation for culturally related tribes and bands rather than the name of a specific tribe. The traditional lands occupied by the Interior Salish peoples are the Fraser River valley, the Pemberton valley, the Plateau, and the Okanagan valley. The territory overlaps the international boundary with the United States. The traditional area is large, occupied by several different tribes who, although culturally related, were often enemies. The Arrow Lakes tribe is no longer recognized by the Canadian government. The members of this tribe are primarily associated with the Colville Confederated Tribe in the state of Washington, United States. Population estimates before first contact are unreliable. The diseases introduced to the native races by the Europeans traveled across the continent and afflicted these tribes before first contact. Smallpox outbreaks in the 1770’s greatly reduced the population, as did other outbreaks in the 1800’s. Fur traders were the first European contacts with the Interior Salish tribes. Some of these tribes, however, already traded furs with the Coast Salish. Because of this trade, the fur traders who traveled overland found these people already using metal tools and other materials of European origin. Native women often married fur traders. The Interior Salish First Nations are currently organized into tribal councils to more efficiently provide services to their members.

Brief History of the Kwakiutl
The Kwakiutl people were a group of loosely knit but culturally related tribes. They lived on northern Vancouver Island, stretching north and east along the coast of British Columbia. There were two basic groups. Property and rank, very important in the culture, were passed through the mother in the northern groups. In the more southern groups, it was passed to the grandchild through the daughter’s husband. In more recent times, two groups became distinct from the main group – the Komoyue and Matilpe – and were enumerated separately by the Canadian government. As with other tribes in the area, European diseases took a heavy toll on the population even before first contact. Population estimates before first contact are unreliable. In 1924, the population was under 2000.

Tribes and Bands (First Nations) of British Columbia
Map depicting general distribution of tribes in British Columbia can be found at British Columbia Ministry of Education

Important Web Sites
List of Indian Tribes in British Columbia and other locations in Canada and the United States, from the University of British Columbia Library.

A timeline of historic events is located at British Columbia History