Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw Nation
Encyclopedia
The Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw Nation is a First Nations band government based on northern Vancouver Island
in British Columbia
, Canada
, focussed on the community of Port Hardy, British Columbia
in the Queen Charlotte Strait
region.. It is a member of the Kwakiutl District Council
and, for treaty negotiation purposes, the Winalagalis Treaty Group
which includes three other members of the Kwakiutl District Council (the Quatsino First Nation
, the Da'naxda'xw Awaetlatla Nation
, and the Tlatlasikwala Nation
).
The Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nation was originally two distinct First Nations, the Gwa'sala and the 'Nakwaxda'xw. In the mid-1960s the Federal Government relocated the two nations to the current reserve, Tsulquate, and amalgamated them (along with the neighbouring Kwakiutl First Nation) into one group. Eventually the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw and the Kwakiutl separated into the two groups that are recognized by the federal government to this day.
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, focussed on the community of Port Hardy, British Columbia
Port Hardy, British Columbia
Port Hardy is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada located on the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island. Port Hardy has a population of 3822 at last census...
in the Queen Charlotte Strait
Queen Charlotte Strait
Queen Charlotte Strait is a strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It connects Queen Charlotte Sound with Johnstone Strait, Discovery Passage and then to the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound...
region.. It is a member of the Kwakiutl District Council
Kwakiutl District Council
The Kwakiutl District Council, also spelled Kwakwewlth District Council and Kwakiuth District Council,, pronounced Kwagiulth District Council, is a First Nations Tribal Council based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, based in the community of Campbell River, British Columbia in the...
and, for treaty negotiation purposes, the Winalagalis Treaty Group
Winalagalis Treaty Group
The Winalagalis Treaty Group is a group of four First Nations band governments on Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia, Canada. The group was formed to coordinate and administer negotiations with the government of the Province of British Columbia relating to unresolved...
which includes three other members of the Kwakiutl District Council (the Quatsino First Nation
Quatsino First Nation
The Quatsino First Nation is the First Nations band government of the Gwat'sinux subgroup of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, based on the west coast of northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, focused on the community of Coal Harbour in Quatsino Sound...
, the Da'naxda'xw Awaetlatla Nation
Da'naxda'xw Awaetlatla Nation
The Da'naxda'xw Awaetlatla Nation is a First Nation government based on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, focused on the community of Alert Bay, British Columbia in the Queen Charlotte Strait region...
, and the Tlatlasikwala Nation
Tlatlasikwala Nation
The Tlatlasikwala Nation is a First Nations band government based on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, focused on the community of Port Hardy, British Columbia in the Queen Charlotte Strait region....
).
The Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nation was originally two distinct First Nations, the Gwa'sala and the 'Nakwaxda'xw. In the mid-1960s the Federal Government relocated the two nations to the current reserve, Tsulquate, and amalgamated them (along with the neighbouring Kwakiutl First Nation) into one group. Eventually the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw and the Kwakiutl separated into the two groups that are recognized by the federal government to this day.
See also
- Brandon Macko, British Columbia
- Port Hardy, British ColumbiaPort Hardy, British ColumbiaPort Hardy is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada located on the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island. Port Hardy has a population of 3822 at last census...
- Kwakwaka'wakwKwakwaka'wakwThe Kwakwaka'wakw are an Indigenous group of First Nations peoples, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the adjoining mainland and islands.Kwakwaka'wakw translates as "Those who speak Kwak'wala", describing the collective nations within the area that...
- Kwak'walaKwak'walaKwak'wala is the Indigenous language spoken by the Kwakwaka'wakw. It belongs to the Wakashan language family. There are about 250 Kwak'wala speakers today, which amounts to 5% of the Kwakwaka'wakw population...
(language)