The Wuikinuxv Nation, also known as the Oweekeno Nation, is a First Nations

band government In Canada, an Indian band (), First Nation band () or simply band, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subject to the ''Indian Act'' (i.e. status Indians or First Nations). Bands are typically small groups of people: the largest in ...

whose traditional territory is the shores of

Rivers Inlet Rivers Inlet is a fjord in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, its entrance off Fitz Hugh Sound, about southwest of the community of Bella Coola and about north of the northern tip of Vancouver Island and th ...

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 Wanno ...

in the Central Coast region of the

Canadian province Canada has ten provinces and three territories that are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Constitution of Canada, Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British North Amer ...

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, in the area south of Bella Bella and north of

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 and Discovery Passage and via them to the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound. It for ...

. The

Wuikinuxv people The Wuikinuxv (, ("Backbone people"); also Oweekano (Pre-1976); ''Oowekeeno'' (1976-2003) (variations: ''Oweekeno, Owekano, Oweekayno, Wuikenukv, Wikeno, Owikeno, Awikenox'', or the Rivers Inlet people) are an Indigenous First Nations people of th ...

a.k.a. the Oweekeno people reside in the area of

and

, primarily at a village on the

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 t ...

. Substantial numbers of Wuikinuxv also reside away from the traditional territory in

Port Hardy Port Hardy is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada located on the north-east tip of Vancouver Island. Port Hardy has a population of 3,902 as of the 2021 census. It is the gateway to Cape Scott Provincial Park, the North Coast Tr ...

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 ...

and in larger BC communities such as Campbell River, Vancouver and Victoria. Approximately 80 people reside at the village ( Katit Indian Reserve No. 1) 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 The Wuikinuxv-Kitasoo Xai'xais-Nuxalk Tribal Council, formerly 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, C ...

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 The Heiltsuk , sometimes historically referred to as ''Bella Bella'', or ''Híɫzaqv'' are an Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, Indigenous people of the Central Coast Regional District, Central Coast region in British Columbia, ...

. 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 The Haisla Nation is the Indian Act-mandated band government which repr ...

Indian reserves

Indian reserve In Canada, an Indian reserve () or First Nations reserve () is defined 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." ...

s under the administration of the Wuikinuxv Nation are: *Katit Indian Reserve No. 1, on the banks of the

at outflow of

, at

, 658 ha. *Kiltala Indian Reserve No. 2, at the mouth of the Kilbella River on

Kilbella Bay Kilbella Bay is a bay on the British Columbia Coast, Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada, off the north side of Rivers Inlet to the northeast of McAllister Point. A Steamboat, steamer landing formerly operated by the Northland Navigation Comp ...

, a part of

near its head, 50 ha.BC Names/GeoBC entry "Kiltala 2 (Indian reserve)"
/ref> * Cockmi Indian Reserve No. 3, on the west tip of

Walbran Island Walbran Island is an island in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the northwest side of Rivers Inlet near its mouth into Fitz Hugh Sound. History It is named after John Thomas Walbran John Thomas Walbran (1 ...

near Darby Channel, 4.80 ha.

References

{{reflist

External Link

wuikinuxv.netBC Treaty Commission
First Nations governments in British Columbia Wuikinuxv Central Coast of British Columbia