Xwémalhkwu (Homalco) Nation
Bute Inlet
The Xwémalhkwu (Homalco) Nation’s territory runs from Dent Island to Raza Passage, including all of Bute Inlet.

The Xwémalhkwu (Homalco) Nation’s main community is located in Campbell River on Vancouver Island
Xwémalhkwu (Homalco) Nation
Xwémalhkwu (Homalco) means “people of the fast running waters.”
Their main village sites were located on the Homathko River, Southgate River, Orford Bay, and the areas at the mouth of Bute Inlet including Muushkin (Old Church House) and Aupe (Church House).

As a result of Christian contact and federal government policies regarding First Nations’ culture, language, and youth education; the Homalco people were scattered from their main community site and almost lost their connection to their cultural heritage.

Today the Homalco Nation is committed to a program of cultural regeneration and conservation within their territory.
Through cultural and wildlife tours, the Homalco are re-educating their people in their cultural heritage as well as protecting and restoring their territory.

Homalco Organizations and Resources
Online Resources
- Bears of Bute - Grizzly Bear Homalco Wildlife Tours
Grizzly and Black Bears on the world famous Homalco Wildlife Tour deep inside the Traditional Territory of the Homalco Nation and Bute Inlet, British Columbia Canada.
- Homalco First Nation
Short documentary on the Homalco Nation
Related Protected Areas
- ƛəx̌əᵂəyəm / Forward Harbour Conservancy
- ᕈNacinuxᵂ/Phillips Estuary Conservancy
- Cetan/Thurston Bay Conservancy
- Hənʎəmdᶻi Məkola/Yorke Island Conservancy
- Qudǝs/Gillard-Jimmy Judd Island Conservancy
- Pałəmin/Estero Basin Conservancy
- Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park
- Xᵂakᵂəᕈnaxdəᕈma/Stafford Estuary Conservancy