Heiltsuk dialect

Heiltsuk (, Haíɫzaqv), also known as Heiltsuk-Xai’xais, Bella Bella, or Haihais, is a dialect of the North Wakashan (Kwakiutlan) language Heiltsuk-Oowekyala that is spoken by the Xai'xais and Heiltsuk First Nations peoples of the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Bella Bella is the headquarters of the Heiltsuk Nation government. There are only seven fluent speakers left of Heiltsuk.

Heiltsuk is spoken in the villages of Bella Bella and Klemtu, both located on coastal islands in British Columbia not far from Bella Coola and Ocean Falls. Together with Oowekyala (spoken in Rivers Inlet), it forms Heiltsuk–Oowekyala, which, like neighbouring Haisla (spoken in Kitimaat) and Kwak'wala (in Alert Bay, Port Hardy, and various other settlements), is part of the Northern Wakashan language group. Some sources instead count Heiltsuk and Oowekyala as separate languages, which gives four Northern Wakashan languages. Heiltsuk has both conversational and ceremonial forms.