The Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw (ˈkʷakʷəkʲəʔwakʷ), or Kwakiutl (/ˈkwɑːkjʊtəl/) people are indigenous to the Pacific Northwest Coast.
Contemporary Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw reside in their traditional homelands on northern Vancouver Island, as well as on nearby islands, including the Discovery Islands and the adjacent British Columbia mainland, while others live outside Victoria and Vancouver.
The Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw are separated into seventeen nations, each with its own chiefs, clans, history, culture, and people, although they have much in common. These nations are the Kwaguʼł, Mamaliliḵa̱la, Na̱mg̱is, Ławitsis, A̱ʼwa̱ʼetła̱la, Da̱ʼnaxdaʼx̱w, Maʼa̱mtagila, Dzawa̱da̱ʼenux̱w, Ḵwiḵwa̱sut̓inux̱w, Gwawa̱ʼenux̱w, Nak̕waxdaʼx̱w, Gwaʼsa̱la, G̱usgimukw, Gwat̕sinux̱w, T̓łat̕ła̱siḵwa̱la, Wiwēqay̓i, and Wiwēkam.
The Kwaguʼł reside at Fort Rupert, the site of a former Hudson Bay Company fort on the east coast near the northern coast of Vancouver Island. The Mamaliliḵa̱la are on Village Island, in the Johnston Strait Region. The Na̱mg̱is are along the Nimpkish River in northern Vancouver Island and Alert Bay on Cormorant Island. The Ławitsis are on Turnour Island in the Johnstone Strait Region. The A̱ʼwa̱ʼetła̱la are on Knight Inlet, on the British Columbia coast. The Da̱ʼnaxdaʼx̱w are in New Vancouver and Harbledown Island. The Maʼa̱mtagila are in the area of the Queen Charlotte Strait and Johnstone Strait, in the Discovery Islands. The Dzawa̱da̱ʼenux̱w are in the area of Kingcome Inlet on the British Columbia Coast. The Ḵwiḵwa̱sut̓inux̱w are on Gifford Island, between Tribune Channel and Knight Inlet. The Gwawa̱ʼenux̱w are in Hopetown on the south side of Watson Island. The Nak̕waxdaʼx̱w inhabit Blunden Harbour, Seymour Inlet, and Desters Group. The Gwaʼsa̱la are in the area of Smith Inlet and Burnett Bay. The G̱usgimukw are in Quatsino, a hamlet on Quatsino Sound in northern Vancouver Island. The Gwat̕sinux̱w are in Winter Harbour, on the west coast. The T̓łat̕ła̱siḵwa̱la inhabit Hope Island, just west of Nigel Island. The Wiwēqay̓i are in the area of Cape Mudge on Quadra Island. The Wiwēkam are along the Campbell River, on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
The name Kwakiutl was derived from Kwaguʼł, the name of a single community of Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw at Fort Rupert. Franz Boas, an anthropologist, popularized the use of the term to describe the people as a whole, and it came to be applied to all American Indian nations who spoke Kwakʼwala, as well as three other peoples whose language is part of the Wakashan language group, but whose language is not Kwakʼwala. Wrongly known as Northern Kwakiuti, these were the Haisla, Wuikinuxv, and Heiltsuk.
Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw tradition holds that their ancestors (naʼmima) came to their homeland in the form of animals by land, sea, or underground. Once arriving at a given spot, the animal discarded assumed the form of a human.
Before Europeans came to the area, the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw depended heavily on fishing, although hunting and gathering wild edibles supplemented their diet. Wealth was defined by the accumulation of slaves and material goods, which were prominently displayed and traded at potlatch ceremonies.
A potlatch is a gift-giving feast practiced by several of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest in the United States and Canada. During a potlatch, wealth and valuable goods would be given away or destroyed in order to demonstrate a leader's wealth and power. Potlatches were also used in the negotiation and affirmation of rights to the use of specific territories and resources.
George Vancouver's contact with the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw in 1792 was the first documented European contact. Epidemics of disease soon followed, reducing the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw population by about seventy-five percent by the end of the 19th century.
In recent years, the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw have worked to restore their close connections to their land and culture, bringing back traditional customs, beliefs, and languages. These efforts include potlatches, language programs, and social events.
This portion of our guide to American Indians and First Nations people focused on the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw people.
Recommended Resources
Situated in northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, the First Nation is affiliated with the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, and a member of the Kwakiutl District Council and the Winalagalis Treaty Group. Formerly known as the Tanakteuk First Nation, its main community is Alert Bay in the Queen Charlotte Strait region. Its origin story, governmental structure, administrative roles, and access to various band member documents, along with contact data, are included.
https://www.danaxdaxw.com/
Anglicized as Tsawataineuk, the Dzawa̱da̱ʼenux̱w are a First Nations band in the Queen Charlotte Strait region, north of northern Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, spanning the whole of the Broughton Archipelago. A member of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council, the Nation's council members, departments, programs, and services are introduced, along with its language and culture revitalization efforts, employment and training opportunities, and a private login for members.
https://www.kingcome.ca/
The Indigenous nation in central British Columbia, on northern Vancouver Island, is part of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw peoples. Formerly known as the Nimpkish, the First Nations government is the Namgish First Nation. Named for a traditional story of ʼNamxxiyalegiyu, a halibut-like sea monster, the tribe's history and culture are told on its website, which includes an overview of its government structure, elected officials, departments, and administrative offices, along with programs and services.
https://namgis.bc.ca/
The Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw Nations are a union of two Kwakwaka'wakw peoples (Gwa'sala and the 'Nak'waxda'xw) in a band government based on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. While originally distinct peoples, the Gwa’sala and the ‘Nak’waxda’xw traditionally had strong cultural and family ties. The nation's history, culture, lands, language, and governmental structure are featured. Departmental and administrative contacts and a member portal are included.
https://www.gwanaknations.ca/
The Kwakiutl Band Council is a First Nations community in Fort Rupert, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Band member services, administrative contacts, news and information, educational services and programs, housing, health, and other services are featured. Job postings, a calendar of events, member-owned businesses, and voting information are discussed, and fisheries industries, traditional carving, and First Nation businesses and industries are highlighted.
https://www.kwakiutl.bc.ca/
The First Nations tribal council is based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is based in the community of Campbell River, and its member nations are all Kwakwaka'wakw (speakers of Kwak'wala). The council's treaty groups and member governments are listed on the site, and the council's mission, vision, staff directory, administrative contacts, and contacts for KDC Health are also set forth, along with its location, services, and other details.
http://www.kdchealth.com/
Also known as the Kwiakah Band or the Kwiakah Nation, the band government is a subgroup of the Laich-kwil-tach (Southern Kwakiutl) group of the Kwakwaka'wakw people. The Nation's mailing address is in Campbell River, British Columbia, where most band members live. Although its traditional territory is in the Discovery Islands to the north, and its two Reserves are on the mainland adjacent to that archipelago, its territory, conservancies, and tourism resources are highlighted.
http://kwiakah.com/
Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis Nation
The Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis are affiliated with the larger Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council. Its governmental structure, chief, council, electoral process, list of electors, polling notices, and a notice of nominations are set forth, along with member policies, services, and programs, job opportunities, administrative offices, hours, and contacts. The website reports on the First Nations band's ongoing projects and other news and announcements.
https://khfn.ca/
Formerly known as Mahteelthpe or Matilpi, the Ma’amtagila First Nation is an Indigenous nation, and part of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw peoples. The First Nation's territory is in the Queen Charlotte Strait/Johnstone Strait area in the Discovery Islands. In 1945, the Canadian government amalgamated the Ma'amtgila with the Kiowitsis Tribe, but they were restored as the Ma'amtagilla First Nation in 2021. A profile of the Nation is set forth, along with its history and origin stories.
https://www.maamtagila.ca/
The Mamalilikulla (Mamalelequala, Mamalilikulla, Mamalillaculla, Mamaleleqala) are an Indigenous First Nation in central British Columbia, on northern Vancouver Island. They are one of several Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw nations, with its own geographical area and governmental system. Elected officials, the election code, policies, a comprehensive community plan, and membership information are set forth, along with an overview of member programs and services. Contacts are posted.
https://mamalilikulla.ca/
Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw Tribal Council
The Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw is a longstanding traditional alliance between four member tribes: Gwawa'enuxw (Hopetown), Kwickwasut'inuxw (Gilford), Haxwa’mis (Wakeman), and Dzawada’enuxw (Kingcome). The alliance was solidified in 1938 with the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Totem Pole. The alliance's history, vision, mission, member bands, land issues, resources, board members, and staff contacts are featured. Photographs, videos, and job opportunities are included.
https://mdtc.ca/
Born in Alert Bay, British Columbia, Richard is a Kwaguilth (Kwakiutl) Native, although he has spent most of his life in Victoria. He began carving with his father, Henry Hunt, then began work as an apprentice carver at the Royal British Columbia Museum, becoming chief carver of the Thunderbird Park Carving Program the following year. In 1986, he began a new career as a freelance artist. His work is shown in a photo gallery, and an online contact form is available.
https://www.richardhunt.com/
The First Nations band government is comprised of descendants of the Tlatlasikwala, Nakumgilisala, and Yutlinuk peoples. It is based on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, centered in the community of Port Hardy in the Queen Charlotte Strait region. This section introduces the First Nation group, along with contacts, information about doing business with the Nation, project referrals, its policies for visitors, and a gallery of photographs.
http://www.tlatlasikwala.com/
Situated in Alert Bay, British Columbia, the U'mista Cultural Center seeks to preserve and showcase the cultural heritage of the Kwakwaka'wakw people. Among its exhibits is a collection of potlatch artifacts, which were repatriated after being confiscated during a period in which the potlatch was banned in Canada. Founded in 1980, the Centre is a place for cultural education, featuring art galleries, exhibits, and a gift shop, with an online catalog allowing for online purchases.
https://www.umista.ca/
Sometimes known as the Wewaikai First Nation, the Cape Mudge First Nation, or the Cape Mudge Indian Band, the First Nations band government is a subgroup of the Laich-kwil-tach, or Southern Kwakiutl group of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples. It is based on Quadra Island offshore from Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada, which is on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the northern end of the Strait of Georgia. Its chief council, laws, policies, procedures, programs, and events are featured.
https://wewaikai.com/
Also known as the Campbell River First Nation, The Wei Wai Kum are the band government of one of the component groups of the Laich-kwil-tach or Southern Kwakiutl subgroup of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, based at the city of Campbell River. The Nation's chief and council are introduced, with an overview of its culture, economic development programs, businesses, industries, and contacts. Facility rentals are noted, a member site is included, and announcements are posted.
https://weiwaikum.ca/
