| People | Nuxalk people |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Bella Coola |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Land[1] | |
| Main reserve | Bella Coola Indian Reserve No. 1 |
| Land area | 20.3 km2 |
| Population (2024)[1] | |
| On reserve | 917 |
| On other land | 41 |
| Off reserve | 872 |
| Total population | 1830 |
| Government[1] | |
| Chief | Samuel |
| Council | Schooner |
| Tribal Council[1] | |
| Wuikinuxv-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council | |
| Website | |
| nuxalknation | |
TheNuxalk Nation is theband government of theNuxalk people ofBella Coola, British Columbia. It is a member of theWuikinuxv-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council, and until March 2008 was a member of theUnrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.
"Nuxalk" is singular; "Nuxalkmc" is plural.[citation needed]
Q'umk'uts', a Nuxalk community that is located at the confluence of the Bella Coola River and the Pacific Ocean is currently home to the majority of the Nuxalk population, is located in theBella Coola Valley, inBritish Columbia. It is onthe Nation's primary reserve (which is much smaller than the Nation's traditional territory), adjacent to the Bella Coola "townsite", theCentral business district for the Valley. Nuxalk Hall is a community center, wherepotlatches and social events are held. The Nuxalk Basketball Association hosts games in the hall.[2]
The Nuxalkmc were wrongfully categorized asCoast Salish. Today the Nuxalkmc are classified under their own distinct category.
The Nuxalk Nation traditionally has spoken theNuxalk language. Today there are an estimated 5 fluent speakers, 80 conversational speakers, and 140 learning speakers.[2] Nuxalk-language radio programming and work towards an expanded Nuxalk-English dictionary and a new online phrasebook started in 2014.
Located at the mouth of theBella Coola River, the nation was only accessible by foot, air, or boat until 1953, when a road was constructed. Nuxalk people have lived in the region for millennia.Norwegian people settled in the area in the 1890s.[2] It is estimated the population of the Nuxalkmc people were in the thousands amongst different villages. Stories suggest there were approximately ten thousand to thirty thousand spanning the wholeBella Coola Valley and surrounding inlets.
In February 2023, a Nuxalk Nationtotem pole was returned to the nation by theRoyal British Columbia Museum.[3] The totem pole was stolen from the nation in 1913 and sold to the museum for $45.[3]
The Nuxalk apply apoultice of pounded roots ofRanunculus acris to boils.[4] They take adecoction ofAntennaria howellii leaves for body pain, but not pain in the limbs.[5]
A full list of theirethnobotany can be found athttp://naeb.brit.org/uses/tribes/21/ (387 documented plant uses).
