Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) Nation
Bella Bella
The Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) are the main descendants of Hailhzaqvla-speaking peoples who inhabited an area of approximately 6000 sq. miles in the central coast region of what is today known as British Columbia.
Wáglísla (Bella Bella) is the largest Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) community, located on Campbell Island in the central coast region.
Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) Nation
The Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) territory encompasses many inlets, islands, rivers, and mountains, containing old growth forest and dense undergrowth.
The Haíɫzaqv traditional territory extends from the southern tip of Calvert Island, up Dean and Burke Channels as far as Kimsquit and the head of Dean Inlet to the northeast, and up the Mathieson and Finlayson Channels to the north. It includes Roscoe, Cousins and Spiller Inlets, and Ellerslie Lake, and the outer coast regions of Milbanke Sound, Queens Sound, and the Goose Island Group and Calvert.
Historically, the Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) inhabited over 50 major villages across their territory with the main community located at ‘Qélc village on Campbell Island, close to the Hudson’s Bay trading post of Fort McLaughlin.
While the Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) called this village ‘Qélc, it is thought European settlers referred to it by its geographical name Pélbála which eventually gave rise to the modern English name Bella Bella.
Wáglísla, now known as Bella Bella, remains the main community location for the Heiltsuk Nation and is the largest First Nation community in the Great Bear Rainforest. It boasts a Heiltsuk fish processing plant, BC Ferries terminal, and regional airport.
The Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department is also located in Bella Bella; allowing for an integrated approach to stewardship and decision-making relating to land, water and cultural resources within Heiltsuk Territory as well as providing technical advice to the Heiltsuk Tribal Council.
Related to Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) Nation
A Generational Investment: Haíɫzaqv Acquire Shearwater Resort and Marina
The Heiltsuk Tribal Council has purchased Widsten Holdings Inc., which includes the Shearwater Resort and Marina, as well as other related businesses. Through its Haíɫcístut (reconciliation) process, the Heiltsuk Tribal Council has negotiated agreements with the governments of Canada and British Columbia, which include funding for economic development.
Rebuilding the Heart of Wáglísla: Haíɫzaqv Invest in Community-owned Grocery Store and Bakery
When the historic Wáglísla band store was lost to a fire in 2013, community members in Bella Bella responded with quick-thinking, hard work, and a lot of love to build a new commercial complex specially tailored to the needs of Haíɫzaqv People.
Bella Guest Cabins: The Growth of Small Business in Haíɫzaqv Territory
Bella Guest Cabins—a small, locally-owned accommodation business in Bella Bella—showcases the growing success of Indigenous entrepreneurs in BC, and one of the ways Haíɫzaqv Nation is diversifying the coastal economy.
Coastal Stewardship Network: Collaborative Monitoring and Protection of First Nations’ Lands and Waters
The Coastal Stewardship Network is supporting its member First Nations as they’ve established sophisticated monitoring programs and their analyses informing vital environmental and resource management decisions.
Heiltsuk Stewardship: Collaborating for Resource Management
The Heiltsuk Nation is ensuring that community voices are heard and important resources are protected through their stewardship work.
First Nations Lead Efforts to Monitor Salmon Populations
First Nations’ stewardship departments are leading efforts to ensure salmon populations are managed with the best available data.
Online Resources
- Heiltsuk - Northwest Coast Village Project
Simon Fraser University - The Bill Reid Centre
- Bella Bella - Northwest Coast Village Project
Simon Fraser University - The Bill Reid Centre
- Heiltsuk Guardian Watchmen
Coastal Stewardship Network
- Heiltsuk Nation
Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance
- Bella Bella Documentary
National Film Board Canada
- Small Number and the Old Canoe: Heiltsuk
Interdisciplinary Research in Mathematics and Computational Sciences Centre (IRMACS) at Simon Fraser University
Related Protected Areas
- Burnt Bridge Creek Conservancy
- Calvert Island Conservancy
- Carter Bay Conservancy
- Cascade-Sutslem Conservancy
- Clyak Estuary Conservancy
- Codville Lagoon Conservancy
- Codville Lagoon Marine Provincial Park
- Cranstown Point Conservancy
- Dean River Conservancy
- Dean River Corridor Conservancy
- Ellerslie Roscoe Conservancy
- Emily Lake Conservancy
- Fiordland Conservancy
- Goat Cove Conservancy
- Goosebay Conservancy
- Green Inlet Marine Provincial Park
- Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy
- Hot Springs – No Name Creek Conservancy
- Huchsduwachsdu Nuyemjees / Kitlope Heritage Conservancy
- Jackson Narrows Marine Provincial Park
- Jump Across Conservancy
- K’lgaan/Klekane Conservancy
- K’ootz/Khutze Conservancy
- Kimsquit Estuary Conservancy
- Koeye Conservancy
- Kwatna Estuary Conservancy
- Lady Douglas-Don Penninsula Conservancy
- Lockhart – Gordon Conservancy
- Namu Conservancy
- Namu Corridor Conservancy
- Nooseseck Conservancy
- Oliver Cove Marine Provincial Park
- Outer Central Coast Islands Conservancy
- Penrose Island Marine Provincial Park
- Penrose-Ripon Conservancy
- Pooley Island Conservancy
- Q’altanaas / Aaltanhas Conservancy
- Rescue Bay Conservancy
- Restoration Bay Conservancy
- Sir Alexander Mackenzie Provincial Park
- Troup Passage Conservancy
- Upper Kimsquit River Conservancy
- Biodiversity, Mining and Tourism Areas