The Wuikinuxv Nation, also known as the Oweekeno Nation, is a
First Nations
band government
In Canada, an Indian band or band (french: bande indienne, link=no), sometimes referred to as a First Nation band (french: bande de la Première Nation, link=no) or simply a First Nation, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subjec ...
whose traditional territory is the shores of
Rivers Inlet and
Owikeno Lake
Owikeno Lake, also Owekeeno Lake, Owekano Lake, Oweekayno Lake and other spellings (pron. "o we KEE no"), 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 ...
in the
Central Coast region of the
Canadian province
Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British Nort ...
of
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include ...
, in the area south of
Bella Bella and north of
Queen Charlotte Strait. The
Wuikinuxv people
The Wuikinuxv , ("Backbone people"), also rendered Oweekano (Pre-1976); ''Oowekeeno'' (1976-2003) (variation: ''Oweekeno, Owekano, Oweekayno, Wuikenukv, Wikeno, Owikeno, Awikenox'', and also known as the Rivers Inlet people, are an Indigenous F ...
a.k.a. the Oweekeno people reside in the area of
Rivers Inlet and
Owikeno Lake
Owikeno Lake, also Owekeeno Lake, Owekano Lake, Oweekayno Lake and other spellings (pron. "o we KEE no"), 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 ...
, 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
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
and in larger BC communities such as Campbell River, Vancouver and Victoria. Approximately 80 people reside at the village (
Katit Indian Reserve No. 1
Katit Indian Reserve No. 1 is the main Indian reserve of the Wuikinuxv people, and is one of the three reserves governed by the Wuikinuxv Nation band government. It is located in British Columbia, Canada, on the entrance to Owikeno Lake on the ...
) while overall membership was 283 in 2006, 194 of whom lived off-reserve.
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
Wuikinuxv-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council.
Language
The Wuikinuxv speak the
Oowekyala language, 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, which in their own official usage is spelled "Wuikyala," and the people were incorrectly known in the past as "Northern Kwakiutl", as were the
Haisla Haisla may refer to:
* Haisla people, an indigenous people living in Kitamaat, British Columbia, Canada.
* Haisla language, their northern Wakashan language.
* Haisla Nation, a First Nations band government in British Columbia, Canada.
{{dis ...
.
Indian reserves
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve (french: réserve indienne) 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."
Indi ...
s under the administration of the Wuikinuxv Nation are:
*Katit Indian Reserve No. 1, on the banks of the
Wannock River at outflow of
Owikeno Lake
Owikeno Lake, also Owekeeno Lake, Owekano Lake, Oweekayno Lake and other spellings (pron. "o we KEE no"), 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 ...
, at
Rivers Inlet, 658 ha.
*Kiltala Indian Reserve No. 2, at the mouth of the
Kilbella River on
Kilbella Bay, a part of
Rivers Inlet near its head, 50 ha.
BC Names/GeoBC entry "Kiltala 2 (Indian reserve)"
/ref>
*Cockmi Indian Reserve No. 3
Cockmi Indian Reserve No. 3, officially Cockmi 3, is one of the three Indian reserves of the Wuikinuxv Nation band government located on the west tip of Walbran Island, which is near Darby Channel in the area of Fitz Hugh Sound on the Central ...
, on the west tip of Walbran Island near Darby Channel, 4.80 ha.
References
BC Treaty.net information pageFirst Nation Detail, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
{{reflist
First Nations governments in British Columbia
Wuikinuxv
Central Coast of British Columbia