Heiltsuk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Heiltsuk (pronounced: /ˈheil.ʦʊk/) (also Bella Bella) are a First Nations people of the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, centred on the island communities of Bella Bella and Klemtu. Heiltsuk is also the name of the First Nation who speak the language. The government of the Heiltsuk people is the Heiltsuk Nation. Its largest community is Bella Bella.
[edit] Culture and History
The Heiltsuk are comprised of the descendants of a number of tribal groups who came together in Bella Bella in the 19th Century and came to be called the Bella Bella Indians. They generally refer to themselves as Heiltsuk.
As with many other Nations on the coast they were subject to drastic population loss as a result of introduced diseases and heightened military conflicts during the fur trade era.
[edit] Language
The Heiltsuk language is part of what is called the Wakashan language family. Related to other languages in the group as French is to Spanish, the Heiltsuk language is similar to wuikyala (Oowekyala and Kwak'wala languages and are part of the Northern Wakashan language group. Heiltsuk and Wuikyala are both tonal languages, which Kwak'wala is not, and both are considered dialects of the Heiltsuk-Oowekyala language.
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