Heiltsuk
The Heiltsuk, also known as Bella Bella, are an Indigenous group located in British Columbia, Canada, specifically around Milbanke Sound. This community is organized into three subtribes and matrilineal clans, each with its own cultural identity and symbols, like the Killer Whale and Raven. Historically, the Heiltsuk engaged in complex social structures that included secret societies and potlatches, deeply rooted in mythology that features notable figures such as Raven. Traditionally, they relied on salmon and other natural resources for sustenance and utilized dugout canoes for various activities, including fishing and trade.
The arrival of European settlers led to significant changes in Heiltsuk life, including population decline due to war, disease, and cultural disruption. In contemporary times, the Heiltsuk Nation focuses on cultural preservation, particularly language revitalization, through initiatives like the Heiltsuk Cultural Education Centre. The community is also involved in sustainable resource management and operates various businesses, including a fish processing plant. A pivotal event in recent history was the Nathan E. Stewart oil spill in 2016, which prompted the Heiltsuk to advocate for environmental protection and legal reforms to safeguard their cultural heritage and the ecosystems they depend on.
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Heiltsuk
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Northwest Coast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Wakashan (Heiltsuk dialect)
- PRIMARY LOCATION: British Columbia, Canada
- POPULATION SIZE: 2,494 (2021: “Heiltsuk” The Canadian Encyclopedia)
The Heiltsuk, named the Bella Bella by Europeans, originally lived on Milbanke Sound in British Columbia. They were divided into three subtribes, the Kokatik, Oeltik, and Oealitk, and three matrilineal clans, the Haihaiktenok (Killer Whale), Koetenok (Raven), and Wikoktenok (Eagle).
The Heiltsuk were previously thought to be a Kwakiutl Indigenous group, although this is no longer believed to be true. However, they did share many similarities with these neighboring Indigenous peoples. Central to their social life were secret societies, potlatches, and a highly developed mythology featuring a folk hero named Raven and a creator god. The Heiltsuk lived in villages. Their houses were made of cedar planks and decorated with totem poles and the crests of their clan. They subsisted primarily on salmon and other wild animals and plants; their primary means of transportation was the dugout canoe, which they used for fishing, warfare, travel, and trade.
During their early history, the Heiltsuk were a warlike people. They were flanked on either side by the Tsimshian and Bella Coola, and they had to contend with Haida war parties. It is believed that this constant threat of war was responsible for the founding of the secret societies, the most important of which originated in war customs.
Europeans eventually moved into the area, attracted by Milbanke Sound, which provided one of the few good openings into the inner passage to Alaska. The effects of this contact with Europeans were similar to the dismal effects visited on other Indigenous people in the area—a decline in population from war casualties, disease, and confinement to reservations. Additionally, the Heiltsuk were largely Christianized by Protestant missionaries, so most of their ancient culture, customs, and mythology were largely forgotten.
In the twenty-first century, the Heiltsuk Nation is centered around Bella Bella, British Columbia, and the Bella Bella Indian Reserve. The Heiltsuk Nation emphasizes cultural preservation, specifically language revitalization, through programs such as the Heiltsuk Cultural Education Centre. They manage their natural resources through the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department. The Heiltsuk operate a fish processing plant, among other businesses, and provide vital social services to its members. Much of the environmental work of the Heiltsuk Nation is in response to the Nathan E. Stewart oil spill, which occurred on October 13, 2016. The tugboat Nathan E. Stewart ran aground in Heiltsuk territory, damaging the local land and marine ecosystems and directly harming the Heiltsuk way of life when over 110,000 liters of oil were spilled. Following the spill, the Heiltsuk have pursued legal action and taken an active role in lobbying for changes in international maritime law that would address Indigenous cultural losses from oil spills.
Bibliography
"Governance - Our Story." Heiltsuk Nation, www.heiltsuknation.ca/about-1. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"Heiltsuk Leaders Aim to Reshape Maritime Law to Prevent Oil Spills." Coastal First Nations, 21 Mar. 2024, coastalfirstnations.ca/heiltsuk-leaders-aim-to-reshape-maritime-law-to-prevent-oil-spills. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"Heiltsuk Nation." British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, www.bcafn.ca/first-nations-bc/vancouver-island-coast/heiltsuk-nation. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"Heiltsuk Nation." Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance, www.ccira.ca/heiltsuk. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Kennedy, Dorothy, and Michelle Filice. "Heiltsuk (Bella Bella)." The Canadian Encyclopedia, 19 Nov. 2021, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/heiltsuk-bella-bella. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.