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The Nuu-chah-nulth (pronounced New-cha-nulth) (also formerly referred to as the '''Nootka''', '''Nutka''', '''Aht''', '''West Coast''', '''T’aat’aaqsapa''', '''Nuuchahnulth''') people are Indigenous People s of Canada . The term 'Nuu-chah-nulth' is used to describe 15 separate but related nations whose traditional home is in the Pacific Northwest on the west coast of Vancouver Island . In pre-contact and early post-contact times, the number of nations was much greater, but smallpox and other consequences of contact resulted in the disappearance of some groups, and the absorption of others into neighbouring groups. The Nuu-chah-nulth are related to the Chinook and Kwakiutl peoples, and the Nuu-chah-nulth Language is part of the Wakashan language group. The Nuu-chah-nulth, and other Pacific Northwest cultures, were famous for their Potlatch ceremonies, in which the host would honour guests with generous gifts. The term 'potlatch' is a word of nuu-chah-nulth origin. The Nuu-chah-nulth were among the first Pacific peoples north of California to come into contact with Europe ans. Competition between Spain and the United Kingdom over control of Nootka Sound led to a bitter international dispute around 1790 , which was settled when Spain agreed to abandon its exclusive claims to the North Pacific coast. Negotiations to settle the dispute were handled under the hospitality of a powerful chief of the Mowachaht Nuu-chah-nulth of Nootka Sound, Maquinna . The Nuu-chah-nulth were one of the only groups on the Pacific Coast who hunted Whale s. Whaling is essential to Nuu-chah-nulth culture and spirituality, and is reflected in stories, songs, names, family lines, and numerous place names throughout the Nuu-chah-nulth territores. Perhaps the most famous Nuu-chah-nulth artifact is the Yuquot "whaler's shrine", a ritual house-like structure used in the spiritual preparations for whale hunts. Composed of a series of memorial posts depicting spirit figures and the bones of whaling ancestors, it is presently in storage at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. It was the subject of a film, ''The Washing of Tears'' which recounts the rediscovery of the bones and other artifacts at the museum, and the travails of the Mowachaht people, the shrine's original owners, in seeking to repossess them. At the time of early contact with European explorers, up until 1830 , more than 90 percent of the Nuu-chah-nulth were killed by Sexually-transmitted Disease s, Malaria , and Smallpox , and by cultural turmoil resulting from contact with Westerners. ORIGIN OF NAME When James Cook first encountered the villagers at Yuquot in 1778, they directed him to "come around" (in their language "nootka") with his ship to the harbour. Cook interpreted this as the name of their tribe. In 1978 the term ''Nuu-chah-nulth'' (meaning "all along the mountains") was chosen as a collective term to describe the closely related nations of western Vancouver Island. This was the culmination of 1958 alliance forged between the various nations in order to present a unified political voice. The Makah of Washington State are directly related to the Nuu-chah-nulth. NUU-CHAH-NULTH BANDS Nuu-chah-nulth bands today are: # bands in 1951 ; # Ehattesaht First Nation ; # Hesquiaht First Nation ; # Kyuquot/Chicklisaht ; # Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations : formerly the Nootka band; # Nuchatlaht First Nation ; # Huu-ay-aht : (formerly Ohiaht); # Opetchesaht ; # Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations : formerly Clayoquot; # Toquaht First Nation ; # Tseshaht First Nation ; # Uchucklesaht First Nation ; # Ucluelet First Nation . The Ditidaht First Nation, while politically and culturally affiliated with the Nuu-chah-nulth, are independently referred to. Similar for the Pacheedaht, who are not politically affiliated with the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. EXTERNAL LINKS
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