The Northwest Coastal People - Groups in this Region

Northwest Coastal People

Environment / Housing

Food / Hunting / Tools

Transportation / Migration

Religion / Ceremonies / Art / Clothing

Family / Social Structure / Leadership

Tribal Relations / War

Arrival

The Northwest Coastal People came here over 10,000 years ago.

Location

West Coast of British Columbia

Map Source - The Canadian Encyclopedia

Languages

Each main group had their own language, although some groups had a language which was similar to others. The main groups were divided due to having the same language family.

The Northwest Coast people have the most diverse languages of any First Peoples group in Canada. It is estimated that there are nineteen distinct languages spoken by the people. However, if the comparable languages are grouped together then the languages spoken in the area can be divided into five main language groups (for convenience sake), and they are:

Haida
Tlingit
Tsimshian - Nishga (Nisga'a) and Gitksan
Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) - Haisla, Heiltsuk, and Kwakwakw'wakw (Kwakiutl)
Salishan (Nuxalk and Coast Salish)

Nations

The Northwest Coast can be divided up into several main groups, although some estimates actually put the number of distinct First Peoples groups in British Columbia at 70. The main groups are the Haida, the Tlingit, the Tsimshian, the Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka), and the Salishan.

Haida
Name	The Haida called the islands on which they lived "Haida Gwaii".	Haida man in a headdress
Location	Queen Charlotte Islands
Language	Haida language - no relation to other language groups

Tlingit
Name	Their name comes from what they call themselves - "Lingit", meaning "people".	Two Tlingit men in traditional dress
Location	Northwest part of BC, southwest part of the Yukon.
Language	Tlingit language - no relation to other language groups

Tsimshian
Name	Their name means "People inside the Skeena River".	Tsimshian Shaman with drum
Location	Along the Nass and Skeena Rivers
Language	The Tsimshian language family can be broken down further into Nishga (Nisga'a) and Gitksan.

Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka)
Name	"Nootka" means "come around" in their native language. When James Cook first encountered them, they told him to "come around" with his ship to the harbour in their language, which he mistakened for their name. "Nuu-chah-nulth" means "all along the mountains", describing the habitat of their people.	Nuu-chah-nulth woman
Location	West Coast of Vancouver Island
Language	The Nuu-chah-nulth language family can be broken down further into Haisla (Kitamaat), Heiltsuk (Bella Bella), and Kwakwakw'wakw (Kwakiutl)

Salishan
Name	"Salishan" refers to the language family. There are numerous groups with numerous languages and dialects within the Salishan language family.	Coast Salish woman
Location	Southwest coast of BC, beside Vancouver Island
Language	The Salishian language family can be broken down further into Nuxalk (Bella Coola) and Coast Salish.