Bellacoola

/bɛləˈkuːlə/ noun

Definition

a First Nations people of the Pacific Northwest coast, also known as the Nuxalk Nation, indigenous to British Columbia, Canada.

Etymology

From the Nuxalk language, the traditional name of the people. Colonial records documented them as 'Bella Coola,' which has been used for centuries despite the people's own name being Nuxalk.

Kelly Says

The Bellacoola/Nuxalk people are remarkable for maintaining a salmon-based economy on rivers—their knowledge of fish runs and preservation shaped entire civilizations on the Northwest coast for millennia.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.