Wuikinuxv Nation
Encyclopedia
The Wuikinuxv Nation, also known as the Oweekeno Nation, is a First Nation with territory in the Central Coast
region of the Canadian province of British Columbia
, in the area south of Bella Bella
and north of Queen Charlotte Strait
. The Wuikinuxv people
a.k.a. the Oweekeno people reside in the area of Rivers Inlet
and Owikeno Lake
, primarily at a village on the Wannock River
. Substantial numbers of Wuikinuxv also reside away from the traditional territory in Port Hardy on Vancouver Island
and in larger BC communities such as Campbell River, Vancouver and Victoria. Approximately 80 people reside at the village (Katit Reserve #1) while overall membership is about 300.
The First Nation has an elected Chief and Council responsible for modern economic and administrative areas and also continues to respect a more deeply rooted hereditary system. It is a member of the Oweekeno-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council
.
, a Northern Wakashan language
which is a dialect of a language known as Heiltsuk-Oowekyala, the other main dialect of which is Heiltsuk
. Their language, and the people, were incorrectly known in the past, as were the Haisla
, as "Northern Kwakiutl".
s under the administration of the Wuikinuxv Nation are:
Central Coast Regional District, British Columbia
Central Coast Regional District is a regional district in British Columbia, Canada. It has a total land area of 24,559.5 km² . When it was created in 1968, it was named the Ocean Falls Regional District, after the then-largest town in the region, the company town Ocean Falls, now a ghost town...
region of the Canadian province of 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...
, in the area south of Bella Bella
Bella Bella, British Columbia
Bella Bella, also known as Waglisla, is an unincorporated community and Indian Reserve community located within Bella Bella Indian Reserve No. 1 on the east coast of Campbell Island in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada. Bella Bella is located north of Port Hardy, on Vancouver...
and north of 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...
. The Wuikinuxv people
Wuikinuxv people
The Wuikinuxv people, also known as the Wuikenukv, Oweekeno, Wikeno, Owikeno, Oowekeeno, Oweekano, Awikenox, or Rivers Inlet people, are an Indigenous First Nations people of the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, located around Rivers Inlet and Owikeno Lake, to the...
a.k.a. the Oweekeno people reside in the area of Rivers Inlet
Rivers Inlet
Rivers Inlet is a fjord in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, its entrance from the Dean Channel near that fjord's mouth, about southwest of the community of Bella Coola and about north of the northern tip of Vancouver Island and the western entrance of the...
and Owikeno Lake
Owikeno Lake
Owikeno Lake, also Owekeeno Lake, Owekano Lake, Oweekayno Lake and other spellings , is a large fjord lake in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada. It connects to the head of Rivers Inlet by the short Wannock River...
, primarily at a village on the Wannock River
Wannock River
The Wannock River is a short river in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, draining Owikeno Lake and entering Rivers Inlet at the head of that inlet, adjacent to the town of the same name, which is the main modern settlement of the Wuikinuxv people...
. Substantial numbers of Wuikinuxv also reside away from the traditional territory in Port Hardy on Vancouver Island
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...
and in larger BC communities such as Campbell River, Vancouver and Victoria. Approximately 80 people reside at the village (Katit Reserve #1) while overall membership is about 300.
The First Nation has an elected Chief and Council responsible for modern economic and administrative areas and also continues to respect a more deeply rooted hereditary system. It is a member of the Oweekeno-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council
Oweekeno-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council
The Oweekeno-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council is a First Nations tribal council comprising band governments of three indigenous peoples of the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada...
.
Language
The Wuikinuxv speak the Oowekyala languageOowekyala language
Oowekyala is a dialect of Heiltsuk-Oowekyala, a Northern Wakashan language spoken around Rivers Inlet and Owikeno Lake in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province...
, a Northern Wakashan language
Wakashan languages
Wakashan is a family of languages spoken in British Columbia around and on Vancouver Island, and in the northwestern corner of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state, on the south side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca....
which is a dialect of a language known as Heiltsuk-Oowekyala, the other main dialect of which is Heiltsuk
Heiltsuk language
Heiltsuk , also known as Bella Bella and Haihais, is a dialect of the North Wakashan language Heiltsuk-Oowekyala that is spoken by the Haihai and Bella Bella First Nations peoples of the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, around the communities of Bella Bella and...
. Their language, and the people, were incorrectly known in the past, as were the Haisla
Haisla
The Haisla are an indigenous people living at Kitamaat in the North Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Their indigenous Haisla language is named after them...
, as "Northern Kwakiutl".
Indian Reserves
Indian ReserveIndian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
s under the administration of the Wuikinuxv Nation are:
- Cockmi Indian Reserve No. 3, west tip of Walbran Island near Darby Channel, 4.80 ha.
- Katit Indian Reserve No. 1, on banks of the Wannock RiverWannock RiverThe Wannock River is a short river in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, draining Owikeno Lake and entering Rivers Inlet at the head of that inlet, adjacent to the town of the same name, which is the main modern settlement of the Wuikinuxv people...
at outflow of Owikeno LakeOwikeno LakeOwikeno Lake, also Owekeeno Lake, Owekano Lake, Oweekayno Lake and other spellings , is a large fjord lake in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada. It connects to the head of Rivers Inlet by the short Wannock River...
, at Rivers InletRivers Inlet, British ColumbiaRivers Inlet is an unincorporated settlement and First Nations community of the Wuikinuxv people, located at the head of the inlet of the same name in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada. The community is located adjacent to the Wannock River, a short waterway connecting Owikeno...
, 658 ha. - Kiltala Indian Reserve No. 2, at mouth of Kilbella River on Kilbella Bay of Rivers InletRivers InletRivers Inlet is a fjord in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, its entrance from the Dean Channel near that fjord's mouth, about southwest of the community of Bella Coola and about north of the northern tip of Vancouver Island and the western entrance of the...
, 50 ha.