Knowra Coast Salish peoples Coast Salish peoples Coast Salish peoples are Indigenous nations and communities whose traditional territories span coastal British Columbia and northwestern Washington. They share related languages and cultural histories while maintaining distinct identities, governments, and territories.
Coast Salish languages : A group of Indigenous languages spoken by Coast Salish communities in British Columbia and Washington. Related languages link many communities, though language boundaries do not define political identity.
Lushootseed peoples : Coast Salish communities associated with Lushootseed, a language spoken around Puget Sound. Their communities illustrate the distinct identities encompassed by the broader Coast Salish designation.
Douglas Treaties : Fourteen colonial-era agreements made on Vancouver Island between 1850 and 1854 between the British and Indigenous nations. They remain central to territorial rights for several Coast Salish nations on Vancouver Island.
Language revitalization : Efforts by communities to increase the transmission and everyday use of endangered languages. Coast Salish communities use teaching, immersion, and documentation to strengthen their languages.
Salishan languages : A language family indigenous to the Pacific Northwest and parts of the western interior. Coast Salish languages belong to this wider family, which also includes Interior Salish languages.
Halkomelem peoples : Coast Salish communities associated with Halkomelem languages in southwestern British Columbia and northwestern Washington. Their communities occupy territories spanning the Canada–United States border.
Point Elliott Treaty : A 1855 treaty between the United States and Indigenous nations of the Puget Sound region. It shaped federal relations with several Coast Salish peoples in what is now Washington.
First Peoples' Cultural Council : A British Columbia First Nations organization that supports language, arts, and cultural heritage programs. It funds and coordinates projects that include Coast Salish language and cultural revitalization.
Salish Sea : An inland sea system encompassing the Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound. Its waters connect many Coast Salish territories and communities across the international border.
Squamish Nation : A Coast Salish First Nation whose traditional territory includes the Squamish River watershed and areas around Vancouver, British Columbia. Its governance and cultural work represent a specific nation, not a pan-Coast Salish authority.
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