Keywords Native Tribes

The Nootka date back at least 4000 years in their land. Territories were defined by tribe, but in total stretched from Cape Scott (North Vancouver Island) to past Ozette Lake (Washington state) in the south. Relations were generally friendly with the culturally and linguistically related KWAKIUTL on the northwest, but less so with the more alien Coast Salish groups to the east and south. Trade and intermarriage occurred in all directions. White contact dates from Peréz Hernandez's visit in 1774, and the initial focus was the sea-otter trade. Acquisition of guns intensified warfare, with well-armed Nootka groups such as the Mowachath, 'A:ho:sath and Tla'o:kwi'ath nearly exterminating others such as the Machl-'ath, 'O:ts'o:s'ath and T'ok'wa:'ath.

Introduced diseases and alcohol so reduced and debilitated the Nootkans that in the second half of the 19th century colonialization was almost unopposed. Population, estimated at 30 000 at first contact, plunged to only about 2000 in the 1930s. In 1996 there were 6792 registered Nootka. No land surrender was signed on Vancouver Island, but in the late 19th century small INDIAN RESERVES were demarcated with a total area only half that of the Cape Flattery Reservation established in the US by treaty in 1855 (see INDIAN TREATIES). Curtailment of hunting and fishing, including prohibition of the vital salmon weir traps, deprived Nootkans of their traditionally rich economic base.

Nootkans were accomplished woodworkers, outstanding products being fine cedar CANOES and big multifamily houses (see HOUSE; NORTHWEST COAST NATIVE ART). Hunting/fishing gear and techniques were refined. Fish (particularly salmon and halibut), sea mammals and shellfish were mainstays of their diet, supplemented by fowl, deer, elk, bear and plant foods. Clothing was comparatively simple. The seasonal round involved moving by large canoes between winter concentrations in sheltered inlets and smaller summer camps scattering to the outside coast. WHALING with harpoons and floats was a cultural highlight, both economically important and prestigious. Spirit powers were believed to animate all things, and power seeking was common. Any undertaking was prepared for by secret purificatory rituals entailing bathing and scrubbing in cold waters.

Society was closely ranked, with a continuous gradation from chiefs to commoners and a slave class of war captives. Descent was traced through both male and female connections. Property rights were keenly held, including intangibles such as names, songs and stories. Chiefs owned most of the rights and were wealthy. Intensive ceremonialism occasioned frequent feasting and entertainment with song, dance, contests and theatricals (see POTLATCH). Especially elaborate celebrations were the Wolf Ritual cycle of a general secret society, girls' puberty rites and marriage. A zestful sense of life prevailed by the sea.

Historically the Mowachath provided the setting for the NOOTKA SOUND CONTROVERSY, 1789-94, with Chief MAQUINNA (actually M'okwina) their leading participant. In 1811 Chief Wi:kinanish of the Tla'o:kwi'ath took the TONQUIN after provocation. In 1864 the Ahousat captured the schooner Kingfisher, and a punitive expedition was sent against them - the Denman naval expedition. The Bering Sea fur seal hunt, about 1870 to 1911, was carried out by Nootkans transported there with their canoes. They now live mainly by fishing and logging. Traditional culture and language are weakened, but a strong native identity persists.

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

Nootka Whale Hunt
Nootka whalers paddled to open sea in 8-man cedar dugouts to harpoon gray whales, desired for their oil and meat (courtesy Lazare and Parker/National Wildlife Federation).

Nootka Lodge
At Nootka Sound, painting by John Webber, 1778 (courtesy Peabody Museum, Harvard University).

Nootka Woman
John Webber, 1778, pencil drawing (courtesy Peabody Museum, Harvard University).

Nuu-Chah-Nulth Village
A Nuu-Chah-Nulth (Nootka) village, possibly Ahousat, as it appeared in the 1860s. F. Dally photographer (Royal British Columbia Museum, Ethnology Division, PN4649).

Author E.Y. ARIMA

Suggested Reading
E.Y. Arima, The West Coast Nootka People (1983).

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.

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
The website for the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.

Bringing Back the Language
An information page about the Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qu-iaht,Toquaht and Ucluelet First Nations. A PDF file.