What first nations lived in British Columbia?
Mia Phillips
Updated on March 05, 2026
Hear this out loudPauseEthnic groups include the Haida, Coast Salish, Kwakwaka’wakw, Gitxsan, Tsimshian, Nisga’a and other examples of the Pacific Northwest Coast cultures, and also various Interior Salish and Athapaskan peoples, and also the Ktunaxa.
Which indigenous people lived in British Columbia?
Hear this out loudPauseBritish Columbia was home to 155,020 First Nations people, 69,470 Métis, and 1,570 Inuit, with the rest reporting other Note 2 Aboriginal identities (3,745) or more than one Aboriginal identity (2,480).
What percentage of British Columbia is indigenous?
5.9%
Hear this out loudPauseIn 2016, there were 270,585 Aboriginal people in British Columbia, making up 5.9% of the population. The majority of the Aboriginal population reported a single Aboriginal identity – either First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit).
What indigenous land is British Columbia?
Hear this out loudPauseNinety-five percent of British Columbia, including Vancouver, is on unceded traditional First Nations territory. Unceded means that First Nations people never ceded or legally signed away their lands to the Crown or to Canada.
How many natives live in BC?
200,000 Indigenous people
Hear this out loudPauseToday, there are approximately 200,000 Indigenous people in British Columbia. They include First Nations, Inuit and Métis. There are 198 distinct First Nations in B.C., each with their own unique traditions and history. More than 30 different First Nation languages and close to 60 dialects are spoken in the province.
What is the largest First Nation in BC?
Cowichan Tribes
Hear this out loudPauseCowichan Tribes: BC’s Largest First Nation Community. We have been delegated responsibilities for a variety of member services including Children & Families, Education, Health, Housing, Membership, and Social Development. With 4,800+ members, we are the largest single First Nation Community in British Columbia.
What is the richest reserve in Canada?
Hear this out loudPauseThe Osoyoos Indian Reserve, in British Columbia’s southern Okanagan, spans some 32,000 acres. The second striking thing about the Osoyoos Indian Band is that it’s not poor. In fact, it’s arguably the most prosperous First Nation in Canada, with virtually no unemployment among the band’s 520 members.
Where do most First Nations live in BC?
Hear this out loudPauseVancouver has the largest Indigenous population among census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs). Approximately 23% of B.C.’s Indigenous population (61,455 persons) lived in Vancouver in 2016. Victoria has the second largest Indigenous population (17,245 persons).
What percentage of B.C. is First Nations?
Hear this out loudPauseThe 2011 National Household Survey reports that of the over 232,000 Indigenous people in B.C., 67% were First Nations, 30% were Métis and just under 1% was Inuk (Inuit). First Nations people live both on- and off-reserves. Métis and Inuit live in urban and rural communities throughout B.C.
Why are there no treaties in BC?
Hear this out loudPauseWhen British Columbia joined Canada in 1871, the Province did not recognize Indigenous title so there was no need for treaties.
Are there any First Nations in British Columbia?
First Nations in British Columbia constitute many First Nations governments and peoples in the province of British Columbia. Many of these Indigenous Canadians are affiliated in tribal councils.
How many indigenous people live in British Columbia?
There are over 200,000 Indigenous people in BC. Learn about the rich history and cultures of BC’s First Nations and Indigenous People.
What does the government of British Columbia do for indigenous people?
As part of its work to create true and lasting reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, the government of British Columbia is committed to adopting and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN declaration), and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action (calls to action).
When did Aboriginal rights become legal in BC?
1915 Aboriginal groups of British Columbia form Allied Tribes of BC to pursue Aboriginal rights. (TFN) 1920 McKenna-McBride recommendation is implemented. 1921