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The Nootka or Nuu-Chah-Nulth people are indigenous peoples of Canada. The group ia a First Nations whose traditional home is in the Pacific Northwest on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The Nootka are related to the Chinook and Kwakiutl peoples, and the Nootka language is part of the Wakashan language group.
The Nootka, and other Pacific Northwest cultures, were famous for their potlatch ceremonies, in which the host would generous gifts on guests.
The Nootka were among the first Pacific peoples north of California to come into contact with Europeans. Competition between Spain and the United Kingdom over control of Nootka Sound led to a bitter international dispute around 1790, which was settled when Spain agreed to relinquish its claims to the North Pacific coast.
The Nootka were one of the only groups on the Pacific Coast who hunted whales.
At the time of early contact with European explorers, up until 1830, more than 90 percent of the Nootka were killed by sexually-transmitted diseases, malaria, and smallpox, and by cultural turmoil resulting from contact with Westerners.
Origin of Name
When James Cook first encountered the villagers at Yuquot in 1778, they directed him to "come around" (in their language "nootka") with his ship to the harbour. Cook interpreted this as the name of their tribe. In 1981 the term Nuu-Chah-Nulth (meaning "all along the mountains") was chosen as the new name of the tribe.
Nootka Bands
Nootka bands today are:
- Ahousaht: formed from the merger of the Ahousaht and Kelsemeht bands in 1951;
- Ditidaht;
- Ehattesaht;
- Hesquiaht;
- Kyuguot;
- Mowachaht or Muchalaht: formerly the Nootka band;
- Nuchatlaht;
- Ohiaht;
- Opetchesaht;
- Pacheenaht;
- Tla-o-qui-aht: formerly Clayoquot;
- Toquaht;
- Tsesaht;
- Uchucklesaht;
- Ucluelet.
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