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Nuxalk (Bella Coola)
Location:
The Nuxalk live in the Pacific Northwest in British Columbia, Canada. Settlements run along the north shore of the Bella Coola River running from high in the Rocky Mountains down to the Pacific Ocean.
Geography:
Nuxalk land include lakes, mountains, seashores, rivers, prairies, mesas, forests, and peninsulas.
Language:
Nuxalk is part of the Salish language dialect.
Religion:
Tatau, the Creator, is responsible for bringing the Nuxalk people from the heaves and placed them in what is known as Nuxalk land. Earthly ancestors are associated with animals such as the eagle, grizzly bear, killer whale and other species common to the area and are also associated with crests, names, and other titles expressing origin.
Feasts and potlatches are still important cultural practices of the Nuxalk way of life. Though discouraged by government laws, they still perform ceremonies such as the Cry Song, when one loves die and Qunqwtstsut, the Cleansing Ceremony.
The environment is a very important aspect of Nuxalk life and very closely tied to religious beliefs. Many modern Nuxalk are concerned about their native land because of practices such as logging and fishing, which have devastated and depleted many natural resources. The Nuxalk are very dependent on subsistence activities such as trading and fishing, and consider themselves people of the salmon. Reliance on healthy and available sources for water is significant to their survival. They, therefore, also struggle very hard today with maintaining land rights, which protect their ancestral territory.
History:
Smayustas are the creation stories passed down from their ancestors. They tell of how the first Nuxalk people came to earth. Their family histories are expressed through songs, dances, totems, names and so forth.
Before European settlers brought the small pox disease, which eliminated thousands of Nuxalk villages, the Nuxalk Nation was originally composed four distinct territories: Taliyuumc, Sutslhmc, Kwalhnmc, and Nuxalkmc. Eventually, all were forced to integrate into the Nuxalk Q'umk'uts' village and adopted Nuxalk as their nation name.
The population before European settlers arrived was estimated to be about 35,000 (NN) and was drastically reduced to about 300 people who survived the small pox epidemic. Afterwards, many people were forced to relocate and now settle in the area known as Bella Coola.
Additional Reading
Bella Coola Indians
Northwest Coast Art
Nations of British Columbia
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