British Columbia First Nations

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 along both sides of Queen Charlotte sound. The Kwakiutl were strict about how property and rank were passed down. The more northern people passed it through the mother. The southern people passed it through the daughter's husband to the grandchild.

First contact with Europeans may have been as early as 1640. Certainly they had contact with sailing expeditions in 1775. Subsequent contact with ships, overland explorers and traders became more frequent. When the Hudson Bay Company established a post at Victoria there was a major impact on all peoples in the area. 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. There were 1,257 in 1906. The Canadian government reported 2,090 in 1909. 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

Records
The "Ahousat" Indians Reserve located on Flores Island off the West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Record contains some birth, marriage and death records. FHL Film: 924503