Bella
Coola is approximately 430 km northwest of Vancouver BC at the mouth of
the Bella Coola River.
Bella Coola Valley, facing west; photo by Michael Wigle
The
majority of the people in the Bella Coola valley are either Nuxalk or
of Norwegian descent. The Nuxalk have lived in the Bella Coola region
for thousands of years, while the Norwegians established a settlement
of Hagensborg 16km east of Bella Coola in the 1890s.
The
Nuxalk Village of Q'umk'uts' lies next to the non-Nuxalk townsite of Bella
Coola. The Nuxalk Hall hosts the Nuxalk Basketball Association (NBA), a
very popular pastime of Nuxalk young and old. Potlatches, feasts,
dances and celebrations are also held at the Nuxalk Hall, which remains
busy throughout the winter and summer months. There are several Nuxalk
businesses in the valley, including convenience stores, art galleries,
gas stations and clothing outlets, as well as a Volunteer Fire
Department. The Bella Coola town site includes a hospital, post-office,
government agent office, RCMP station, grocery store and retail stores.
