The ƛoʔos Klahoose are one of the three groups comprising the ''ʔayʔaǰuθəm'' Tla'Amin or Mainland Comox. The other two divisions of this once-populous group are the χʷɛmaɬku

Homalco The Homalco First Nation (Comox language: χʷɛmaɬku, also spelled Xwémalhkwu) is a First Nations government located in Bute Inlet near the upper Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. The Homalco are also known, with their neighbours the ...

and

Sliammon The Tla'amin First Nation (Comox language: ɬəʔamɛn), formerly Sliammon Indian Band or Sliammon First Nation, is a First Nations self governing nation whose lands and traditional territories are located on the upper Sunshine Coast in southwes ...

(which is a corruption of "Tla A'min"). The Klahoose, Homalco and Sliammon are, according to oral tradition, the descendants of the survivors of the Great Flood.Hutchings and Williams 2020 The three groups were split by colonialism into different band councils but united historically as the

Tla A'min The Tla'amin First Nation (Comox language: ɬəʔamɛn), formerly Sliammon Indian Band or Sliammon First Nation, is a First Nations self governing nation whose lands and traditional territories are located on the upper Sunshine Coast in southwes ...

, known as the Mainland Comox, and K’ómoks, the larger grouping of the

Comox people Comox may refer to: *Comox, British Columbia, a town on Vancouver Island on the Comox Peninsula *CFB Comox, a Canadian Forces base near the above town *Comox (electoral district), a provincial electoral district 1871–1986 * ''Comox'' (steamboat), ...

, also known as the Island Comox and before the merger with 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 ...

culture (which were known as the Sahtloot). Historically both groups are a subgroup of the

Coast Salish The Coast Salish is a group of ethnically and linguistically related Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, living in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. They speak one of the Coas ...

though the K’ómoks name is from, and their language today, is the Lik'wala (Southern Kwakiutl) dialect of Kwak'wala. The ancestral tongue is the

Comox language Comox or Éyɂáɂjuuthem is a Coast Salish language historically spoken in the northern Georgia Strait region, spanning the east coast of Vancouver Island and the northern Sunshine Coast and adjoining inlets and islands. More specifically, ʔay ...

, though the Sahtloot/Island dialect is extinct. The Klahoose are governed by the Klahoose First Nation and their main community is also called

Klahoose The ƛoʔos Klahoose are one of the three groups comprising the ''ʔayʔaǰuθəm'' Tla'Amin or Mainland Comox. The other two divisions of this once-populous group are the χʷɛmaɬku Homalco and Sliammon (which is a corruption of "Tla A'min" ...

, which is located at the head of

Toba Inlet , image = Toba Inlet.jpg , image_size = 280px , alt = , caption = Looking southwest toward the mouth of Toba Inlet , image_bathymetry = Carte baies Desolation et Bute.svg , alt_bathymetry ...

. Before the

migration to the Campbell River area, Klahoose traditional territory extended from there to

Cortes Island Cortes Island is an island in the Discovery Islands archipelago on the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The island is long, wide, and in area. It has a population of 1,035 permanent residents (2016 census). Cortes Island lies within Electora ...

though the latter is now also claimed by the Kwiakah, one of the four main groupings of the Laich-kwil-tach. Klahoose building

Klahoose, the main Village for the Nation, is located at Squirrel Cove on

has been growing over the years has a Health Centre, and 15,000 sq.ft, Multipurpose Building. The Multipurpose Building was built in 2010 and includes a health wing, fitness center, language lab, kitchen facilities and a three hundred person 'great room'. The Klahoose First Nation has no year-round road access to a service centre and, as a result, experiences a higher cost of transportation. Serviced by

BC Ferries British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., operating as BC Ferries (BCF), is a former provincial Crown corporation, now operating as an independently managed, publicly owned Canadian company. BC Ferries provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry ...

, ferry connector service from

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 ...

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 ...

and then

. Klahoose, at Squirrel Cove is home to approximately seventy-five full-time residents who live and work in the surrounding areas. The remaining Klahoose people, approximately three hundred, reside off reserve in BC coastal communities, lower mainland and in Washington State.

Klahoose First Nation

The Klahoose First Nation is a

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

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 ...

, the

Indian Act The ''Indian Act'' (, long name ''An Act to amend and consolidate the laws respecting Indians'') is a Canadian act of Parliament that concerns registered Indians, their bands, and the system of Indian reserves. First passed in 1876 and still ...

-mandated government for the Klahoose group of Mainland Comox, whose traditional territories are located on

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 ...

, and surrounding

, in southwestern

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, Canada. Their traditionally community is at the head of that inlet, and is also called

, which is the site of Klahoose Indian Reserve No. 1. The Klahoose First Nation are currently negotiating independently with Canada and British Columbia in the B.C. treaty process. The Klahoose First Nation Incremental Treaty Agreement - 2009. Other negotiations include the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF) Revenue Sharing Agreements (Jimmie Creek Hydro Project) - 2014. Forestry agreements including the Klahoose First Nation Forest Consultation & Revenue Sharing Agreement - 2017 and the Klahoose First Nation Interim Agreement on Forest Opportunities - 2018. The Klahoose First Nation is a member government of the

Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council is a First Nations Tribal Council located in British Columbia, Canada, with offices in Tsawwassen and Nanaimo. NmTC advises and assists its 11-member Nations in the areas of Community Planning, Economic Development, ...

(NmTC). The Klahoose First Nation reserves include:

AHPOKUM 9 (24 Ha)

Coast District at mouth of Forbes Creek, on Forbes Bay

Homfray Channel , image = , alt = , caption = , image_bathymetry = Carte baie Desolation fr.png , alt_bathymetry = , caption_bathymetry = Homfray Channel is located between East Redonda Island and the mainlan ...

Desolation Sound , image = Desolation sound 2006.jpg , image_size = 250px , alt = , caption = Desolation Sound , image_bathymetry = Carte baie Desolation fr.png , alt_bathymetry = , caption_bathymetry ...

On the east shore of Homfray Channel at Forbes Bay, with a large stream fed by alpine lakes. Ahpokum (otherwise spelled as Aap'ukw'um) which means maggot, comes from legends recounted by Elders which tell of huge numbers of chum salmon spawning here.

DEEP VALLEY 5 (25 Ha)

Coast District on Quatam Bay, at mouth of the Quatam River East shore of Ramsay Arm. This was a fishing and temporary camp location.

KLAHOOSE 1 (923 Ha)

Coast District at mouth of Toba River at head of

Toba Inlet was historically significant location for hunting deer, catching salmon and ooligan and foraging for berries. The rivers geography enable a unique hunting techniques. It was the traditional winter location for the Klahoose peoples prior to movement of the village site to Squirrel Cove. Although there are current Klahoose members who were raised in Toba Inlet, there are currently no full-time residents.

QUANIWSOM 2 (0.3 Ha)

Coast District, near mouth of Tahumming River, at head of

. This area contains a cemetery, which was mainly active when residents still lived in Toba Inlet.

QUEQUA 6 (2 Ha)

New Westminster District, on West Redonda Island, on East shore of Lewis Channel Quequa is a fishing area with a rocky beach.

SALMON BAY 3 (70 Ha)

Coast District at head of Brem Bay, at mouth of Brem River North Side of

. Also known as Kwikwtichenam, this was a summer village during while Klahoose 1 was still maintained as a winter site. Kwikwtichenam had historically good salmon and herring fishing grounds. The name meanes 'getting humpback salmon', referring to the reliability of catching pink salmon in the Brem River.

SIAKIN 4 (3 Ha)

New Westminster District, on West shore of East Redonda Island, near Dean Point at the mouth of two streams. Siakin was a fishing station specifically for dog fish. The name means 'your mouth', as it is the place at the mouth of the streams.

SQUIRREL COVE 8 (16 Ha)

Parenamn (also referred to as Tork A or also Squirrel Cove). Sayward District, East side of Cortes Island, at head of Squirrel Cove. Located wooded area in the north end of the bay that makes up Squirrel Cove. This site was used for fishing and for reliable planet foraging. The name Papenamn means 'to plant a garden or 'planted area'

TATPO-OOSE 10 (12 Ha)

Sawyward District, on Southeast shore of Maurelle Island, looking out of Read Island and Hoskyn Channel/Surge Narrows. This site was used as a fishing village.

TORK 7 (283 Ha)

Toq (Tork) is the most populated village site and band office. Sawyward District, on East shore of Cortes Island at Squirrel Cove. The main village site of the Klahoose peoples, It supports a year-round population of approximately seventy-five full-time residents.

References

External links

Klahoose First Nation homepageNaut'sa mawt Tribal Council websiteBC Government Consulting with First Nations websiteGovernment of Canada First Nation Profiles homepage
{{Coast Salish Sunshine Coast (British Columbia) First Nations in British Columbia Coast Salish Coast Salish governments K'omoks