Cowichan
Cowichan refers to an Indigenous group from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, known for their rich cultural heritage as part of the Coast Salish peoples. Historically, they inhabited six villages along the Cowichan River and Saanich Inlet, building large rectangular homes from cedar. The Cowichan people engaged in cooperative living, sharing responsibilities for ceremonies and community protection. Their traditional economy relied heavily on marine resources, with men primarily hunting sea mammals and women gathering plants and food.
The Cowichan's first contact with European explorers in 1775 marked the beginning of significant changes, including exposure to diseases that impacted their population. Today, the Cowichan Tribes is the largest First Nations band in British Columbia, encompassing nine reservations and actively involved in preserving their cultural practices and language. They balance traditional lifestyles with modern initiatives, operating successful businesses through the Khowutzun Development Corporation, which supports community development and offers various social services, including health and housing programs. This blend of heritage and contemporary enterprise reflects their resilience and commitment to their community's well-being.
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Cowichan
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Northwest Coast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Salishan
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
- POPULATION SIZE: Over 5,517 (2024, Cowichan Tribes)
The Cowichan inhabited six villages on Vancouver Island, British Columbia—on the lower course of the Cowichan River, on Malahat, and one village on Saanich Inlet. The Indigenous group was part of the Salishan language family. Permanent dwellings were large rectangular post-and-lintel constructions of split and hewn cedar. Households cooperated in numerous ceremonies and for mutual protection. The Cowichan, a Coast Salish people, were dependent upon a wide variety of marine products, some of which were stored for winter consumption and trade. The harpoon was used for hunting sea mammals. Hunting and trapping of land mammals was the responsibility of the men; women gathered a wide variety of food and utilitarian plants.
In 1775, the Bruno de Hezeta-Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra expedition became the first European American group to have contact with the Cowichan, bringing smallpox with them. Malaria, measles, influenza, dysentery, and typhoid followed. Fort Langley prevented attacks by the Cowichan upon the Upper Stalo Salish, but they continued to fight with the Clallam, Lummi, and Musqueam. In the 1860s, the Cowichan encroached upon Pentlatch territory to use the Qualicum fishery.
In the twenty-first century, the Cowichan is the largest First Nations band in British Columbia, occupying nine reservations covering a total of about 5,900 acres on Vancouver Island. The Cowichan honor their traditional way of life through cultural programs such as ones aimed at preserving the Hul'q'umi'num language and also embrace contemporary society. They own and operate several successful businesses through the Khowutzun Development Corporation, which brings in millions of dollars in annual revenue, much of which is reinvested in their community. The Cowichan offer their members many social services, including health, housing, and child welfare programs.
Bibliography
"About Cowichan Tribes - Demographics." Cowichan Tribes, cowichantribes.com/about-cowichan-tribes/demographics. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
"Cowichan Tribes." British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, www.bcafn.ca/first-nations-bc/vancouver-island-coast/cowichan-tribes. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Cowichan Tribes, cowichantribes.com. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
"Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group." BC Treaty Commission, www.bctreaty.ca/hulquminum-treaty-group. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Harris, Martha Douglas. History and Folklore of the Cowichan Indians. The Colonist Printing and Publishing Company, 1901.
Kennedy, Dorothy, et al. "Coast Salish." The Canadian Encyclopedia, 25 July 2019, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/coastal-salish. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.
Marshall, Daniel Patrick. Those Who Fell from the Sky: A History of the Cowichan Peoples. Duncan: Cowichan Cultural and Education Centre, 1999.
"Origins." Cowichan Tribes, cowichantribes.com/about-cowichan-tribes/history/origins. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.