The We Wai Kai Nation, also known as the Wewaikai First Nation, the Cape Mudge First Nation and the Cape Mudge Indian Band, is the

band government In Canada, an Indian band or band (french: bande indienne, link=no), sometimes referred to as a First Nation band (french: bande de la Première Nation, link=no) or simply a First Nation, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subjec ...

of the We Wai Kai subgroup of the

Laich-kwil-tach Laich-kwil-tach (also spelled Ligwilda'xw), is the Anglicization of the Kwak'wala autonomy by the "Southern Kwakiutl" people of Quadra Island and Campbell River in British Columbia, Canada. There are today two main groups (of perhaps five origi ...

(also Legwildok or Euclataws or Yucultas or "Southern Kwakiutl") group of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, based on

Quadra Island Quadra Island is a large island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Discovery Islands, in the Strathcona Regional District. Etymology In 1903, the island was named after the Peruvian Spanish n ...

offshore from

Campbell River, British Columbia Campbell River, or Wiwek̓a̱m, is a city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage, which lies along the 50th parallel north along the important Inside Passage shipping route. Campbell River ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, which is on the east coast of

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...

at the northern end of the

Strait of Georgia The Strait of Georgia (french: Détroit de Géorgie) or the Georgia Strait is an arm of the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the extreme southwestern mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada and the extreme northwestern mainland coast ...

. The Laich-kwil-tach include the Wei Wai Kum, who are organized as the

Campbell River First Nation Laich-kwil-tach (also spelled Ligwilda'xw), is the Anglicization of the Kwak'wala autonomy by the "Southern Kwakiutl" people of Quadra Island and Campbell River in British Columbia, Canada. There are today two main groups (of perhaps five origi ...

, and the Kwiakah Nation, whose traditional territory is in the Discovery Islands to the northeast of that city and on the adjoining mainland coast. All three are part of the

Kwakiutl District Council The Kwakiutl District Council, also spelled Kwakwewlth District Council and Kwakiuth District Council, pronounced Kwagiulth District Council, is a First Nations Tribal Council based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, based in the comm ...

, a tribal council which includes other Kwakwaka'wakw bands farther northwest in the Queen Charlotte Strait region and on northern

Indian Reserves

Indian Reserves under the band's administration are:We Wai Kai Nation website
/ref> * Village Bay Indian Reserve No. 7, 4.11 ha. in size, uninhabited (east coast of Quadra Island) * Open Bay Indian Reserve No. 8, 5.2 ha. in size, uninhabited (east coast of Quadra Island) * Drew Harbour Indian Reserve No. 9, 96.6 ha. in size; site of the We Wai Kai Campsite, a band-run business (east side of Quadra Island; also the site for the We Wai Kai Scallop Farm which is located in Suitl Channel. * Cape Mudge Indian Reserve No. 10, 458 ha. Site of the band-run businesses and services: the Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge, the Boatworks, the Nuyumbalees Culture Centre (formerly the Kwaguith Museum), the Band Administration Office, pre-school/daycare and approximately 65 homes for the Nations citizens and their families. * Quinsam Indian Reserve No. 12, 121 ha. Site of 121 hectares in size. Over 100 residential homes for their citizens and a 43 acre economic development zone. The Quinsam Reserve also is the site of several businesses and services: a Shell gas station, Lee's Famous Ribs and Chicken, the Quinsam Liquor Store, the administration offices of the We Wai Kai Nation, the KDC

Kwakiuth District Council The Kwakiutl District Council, also spelled Kwakwewlth District Council and Kwakiuth District Council, pronounced Kwagiulth District Council, is a First Nations Tribal Council based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, based in the comm ...

, The Cape Mudge Band Learning Centre, the offices of the

Aboriginal Headstart Program Aborigine, aborigine or aboriginal may refer to: *Aborigines (mythology), in Roman mythology * Indigenous peoples, general term for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area *One of several groups of indigenous peoples, see ...

, and the Quinsam Wellness Centre.

Chief and councillors

As of January 2015 (1 year term) Chief Councillor - Brian Assu, Councillor - Ronnie Chickite, Councillor - Ted Assu, Councillor - Daniel Billy, Councillor - Kim Duncan, Councillor - Cindy Inrig, Councillor - Ted Lewis, Councillor - Keith Wilson Sr., Councillor - TBD

British Columbia Treaty Process

They are a member government of the negotiating group for the BC Treaty Process known as the

Hamatla Treaty Society The Hamatla Treaty Society handles Treaty negotiations in the BC Treaty Process for a number of First Nations located in the northern Strait of Georgia of British Columbia. Membership * Campbell River Indian Band (We Wai Kum Nation) * Cape Mudg ...

, and are also constituted for treaty negotiation purposes as the

Laich-kwil-tach Council of Chiefs Laich-kwil-tach (also spelled Ligwilda'xw), is the Anglicization of the Kwak'wala autonomy by the "Southern Kwakiutl" people of Quadra Island and Campbell River in British Columbia, Canada. There are today two main groups (of perhaps five origi ...

.The treaty society members are in Stage 4 of the BC Treaty Process.

Demographics

The We Wai Kai Nation has over 1100 registered members, living both on and off reserve.

Notable We Wai Kai Nation people

Sonny Assu Sonny Assu (born 1975 in Richmond, British Columbia) is a Ligwilda'xw Kwakwaka'wakw contemporary artist. Assu's paintings, sculptures, prints, installations, and interventions are all infused with his wry humour which is a tool to open the conve ...

, interdisciplinary artist *

Jody Wilson-Raybould Jody Wilson-Raybould (born March 23, 1971), also known by her initials JWR and by her Kwak’wala name Puglaas, is a Canadian lawyer and former politician who served as the member of Parliament (MP) for the British Columbia (BC) riding of Van ...

, Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from 2015 to 2019 * Chief Billy Assu

References

{{Kwakwaka'wakw Kwakwaka'wakw governments Mid Vancouver Island Discovery Islands