(persons left to right) - Dan Nelson Sr., Felicity Walkus & Margaret Siwallace)

These Four Elders were considered the “big 4” of the Nuxalk movement; they were relentless in partaking in political activities.  They strongly encouraged our ways, to use our ways and they led the way.  They were very strong about bringing back our songs & dances, the stories, history, medicines, and the language.  They used our traditional medicines, foods, and they taught the preparations of them.  Their enormous contributions to Nuxalk culture have been felt for generations.  It is a great tribute to the legacy of our people.    We are very thankful to them for doing this for the betterment of our people and our future.    

 This picture expounds the ‘matriarchal’ powers of the Nuxalk history; we are the children of ‘mother earth’.  It is believed this picture was taken in the late 1940’s.  They are the mothers of our Nation; our sovereignty has been

passed down to our families and must be respected in the highest honour.  We are from the land; as we are from our mother.      

This is an artists drawing of the Nuxalk village of “Quomqotes” what is now called Bella Coola; these buildings depict the actual appearance of them.  They were the homes of the Nuxalk families in the 1800’s.