Kwakiutl

The "kwakwaka'wakw" (often referred to as Kwakiutl, which is the name of the Fort Rupert band, and Kwagulth) occupy coastal areas of BC extending from Smith Inlet in the north to Cape Mudge in the south, west to Quatsino and east to Knight Inlet. Originally, there were 28 tribes, all speaking dialects of Kwakwala, from which comes the people's name for themselves, Kwakwaka'wakw. The first census in 1835 recorded the total population as 8575. A member of the Wakashan language family, Kwakwala is related to other languages such as Westcoast (NOOTKA), HEILTSUK (Bella Bella), Oowekyala (Rivers Inlet people) and Haisla (KITAMAAT).

Keywords

Native Tribes

The culture of the Kwakiutl is similar to that of their northern neighbours, the Bella Bella and Rivers Inlet peoples. Trails across Vancouver Island made trade possible with Nootka villages on the West Coast. Archaeological evidence shows habitation in the Kwakwala-speaking area for at least 8000 years. In precontact times Kwakiutl fished, hunted and gathered, according to the seasons, securing an abundance of preservable food. Consequently, this allowed them to return to their winter villages for several months of intensive ceremonial and artistic activity.

In 1792 Spanish explorers Dionisio Alcalá-Galiano and Cayetano Valdés and Captain George VANCOUVER encountered most of the south Kwakiutl groups, and Vancouver wrote detailed descriptions of them. Farther north, in 1849 the HUDSON'S BAY CO established Fort Rupert, which operated until 1877, when it was sold to Robert Hunt, the last factor. George HUNT, Robert's son, became anthropologist Franz BOAS's assistant, and together they wrote a large body of material on the language and culture of the Kwakiutl.

A federal law of 1884 prohibiting the POTLATCH threatened to destroy the heart of the culture. In 1921 a large potlatch at Village Island resulted in the arrest of 45 people, of whom 22 were imprisoned, their ceremonial goods confiscated. Knowing that these masks and other ritual objects had been wrongfully taken, the Kwakwaka'wakw in 1967 initiated efforts to secure their return. The National Museums of Canada agreed to return that part of the collection held by the CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION, on the condition that 2 museums be built, the Kwakiutl Museum in Cape Mudge and the U'mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay (see NORTHWEST COAST NATIVE ART).

Today, most Kwakiutl children speak English as their first language, and many schools in the area sponsor programs in Kwakwala and traditional dance and art. Traditionally fishermen, the Kwakwaka'wakw continue to fish commercially in a highly competitive industry. Hereditary chiefs still pass on rights and privileges at potlatches, but band government is conducted by elected councillors.

A number of original villages have been abandoned as inhabitants moved to communities such as Alert Bay, Campbell River and Port Hardy to be close to schools and hospitals. Only 9 villages are now inhabited, with a total population of about 5700 for the area (1996c).

See also NATIVE PEOPLE, NORTHWEST COAST and general articles under NATIVE PEOPLE.

Puppet
Wood puppet, BC, Kwakiutl? (courtesy Centennial Museum, Vancouver).

Kwakiutl Village of Xumtaspi-Nawittl
An 1880s photograph of the village on Hope Island, BC. On the front of the house at the right are 3 painted family crests (American Museum of Natural History/Dept of Library Services/42298).

Kwakiutl House
A close up view of Johnny Scow's house as it appeared circa 1918 (Royal British Columbia Museum, Ethnology Division/2452).

Interior House Post
Wood interior house post, Hops Island, BC, Kwakiutl (courtesy NMC).

Potlatch Regalia
Dance regalia given up by Kwakiutl who attended Dan Cranmer's potlatch in 1921 at the village of Alert Bay, NWT (courtesy Royal British Columbia Museum).

Kwakiutl Hawk Spirit Mask
Wood Hawk Spirit mask, Alert Bay, BC, Kwakiutl (courtesy NMC).

Kwakiutl Winter Dance
This dance is being performed at a southern Kwakiutl village on Quatsino Sound. Elaborate theatrical performances were an important part of Northwest Coast native life (watercolour by Gordon J. Miller)

Author GLORIA CRANMER WEBSTER

Links to Other Sites

Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples
The website for the "Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples." Click on the links for feature articles about Canada's many multicultural communities, access to their extensive digital archives collection, learning modules, and much more. From "Multicultural Canada."

Languages of Canada
A comprehensive online database of languages currently in use in Canada. Also provides details about extinct languages. Check out the "language maps" for more information. Based on "Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition." From SIL International, a US website.

Heritage BC Stops
Take a virtual tour of unique heritage sites throughout British Columbia. From Heritage BC.