First Nations

The Kwakwaka‘wakw (meaning “the people who speak Kwak´wala“) are First Nations people inhabiting the coastal areas of Northern Vancouver Island and Central Coast of British Columbia.  Approximately 30 autonomous groups comprise the Kwakwaka‘wakw who share in the Kwak´wala language and share a cultural heritage rooted in Kwak´wala. The coloured area of this map shows the different First Nations that speak Kwak´wala including:

Kwagu’ł First Nation
Mamalilikala First Nation
‘Namgis First Nation
Ławit´sis First Nation
Awa’etłala First Nation
Da’naxda’xw First Nation
Ma’amtagila First Nation
Dzawada’enuxw First Nation
Kwikwasut´inuxw First Nation
Haxwa’mis First Nation
Gwawa’enuxw First Nation
‘Nak´waxda’xw First Nation
Gwa’sala First Nation
Gusgimukw First Nation
Gwat´sinuxw First Nation
T´łat´łasikwala First Nation
Weka’yi First Nation
Wiwek’am First Nation

Map: Eric Leinberger for U’mista Cultural Society