First Nations in British Columbia Aboriginal people have always been in British Columbia There are 27 language groups in British Columbia – more than anywhere else There are 2 First Nations Groups in School District 69

First Nations Qualicum First Nation – People in and around the Big Qualicum River Their name means Chum Salmon Nanoose First Nation – People living in Nanoose Bay, at one time it also included Craig Bay Snaw Naw As – meaning calm waters

Cedar The Cedar tree is considered the “Tree of Life” to Coastal First Nations people It had many uses: housing, canoes, poles, clothing, cooking, masks, tools, rope etc…

There are 2 types of cedar tree in British Columbia Yellow and Red Cedar Many trees grew so large that a 10 meter canoe could be made from one tree

Cedar The Bark was stripped from trees to be used for weaving. A prayer was said and an offering given to the tree to thank it for its gift. The bark was harvested in the spring when the sap was running to make it easier to remove

Weaving The outer bark was removed and the inner bark prepared. Sometimes it was beaten to become soft and used for clothing Or Stripped in various sizes for different types of baskets or head

Baskets

Big house Big houses or long houses were large structures that were built by Northwest Coast First Nations people without the modern equipment we use today. They were used as communal houses for all members of a community. You could identify who lived in the house by its location and the decoration/painting on the outside.

Gable Styled Gable styled roofs – high in the middle and gently sloping to the sides - were a Wakashan style and used throughout the West Coast and Northern Coast Regions

Shed Styled Shed styled longhouses were most common in the Southern Coast and in Coast Salish territories

Location Long houses were located near the ocean, usually on a beach and also close to fresh water Their location was based on its economic value, as well as being protected from enemies and the weather The houses faced the water and were close together Most First Nations had both summer and winter village sites and moved the house planks from one to another

How they were built

Who built them A house maker would pick the cedars and have slaves and other skilled workers to prepare them. Owners paid these workers for their house in goods, they were very expensive The workers used axes, mauls, fire and wedges to fall a tree and split planks off of them.

Big Houses Today

Regalia ways of recording history not polite to boast about themselves, this was the way they could display their pride without shaming themselves

Button Blankets Red: represented the sacred red cedar Black: is a sacred colour to protect the wearer from the supernatural White: is the colour of serenity, peace, harmony, spirituality

Regalia Crests represent a families long historyCrests represent a families long history Clans each have their own special name and affiliation with a special living creature, such as Wolf, Eagle, Raven, Tree, Frog. Similar to European coat of armsClans each have their own special name and affiliation with a special living creature, such as Wolf, Eagle, Raven, Tree, Frog. Similar to European coat of arms The borders on the sides represent the walls of a big house and the break along the top the smoke hole.The borders on the sides represent the walls of a big house and the break along the top the smoke hole.

Fishing m Fish were an important food source for all coastal First Nations People. Traditionally salmon were harpooned, netted or caught on lines. They were smoked and dried and stored for later use.

Fishing weirs like this were used on many rivers to trap some of the fish going up a river to spawn. Most were located close to villages and allowed for an easier harvest