The Quamichan (Kw’amutsun, Quw’utsun, or Qu'wutsun) people are commonly referred to as the Cowichan.
The Cowichan people are a Coast Salish people who traditionally inhabited the Cowichan Valley in an area near the current city of Duncan, British Columbia, as well as Salt Spring Island.
When the current Cowichan Tribe was created under the terms of the 1876 Indian Act, seven nearby groups of people were combined into one band. The Quamichan/Kw'amutsun are the largest cultural group, but the Cowichan Tribes include Clemclemaluts (L'umi'umuluts), Comiaken (Qwum'yiqun), Khenipsen (Hinupsum), Kilpahlas (Ti'ulpalus), Koksilah (Hwulqwselu), and Somena (S'amuna').
The traditional homeland of the Cowichan people covered the entirety of the Cowichan Valley, including the area surrounding Cowichan Lake, Shawnigan Lake, and extending into the Gulf Islands and the Fraser River. The lower reaches of the Cowichan Valley, including the area stretching from what is now Duncan down to Cowichan Bay, as well as the lower Koksilah River; these areas were the most heavily settled.
The current tribe's reserve area encompasses 5,900 acres in nine reserves, along with its core traditional territory of about 100,000 acres. The tribe includes seven traditional villages: Kw'amutsun, Qwum'yiqun', Hwulqwselu, S'amuna', L'uml'umuluts, Hinupsum, and Tl'ulpalus.
When Europeans first came to the area, Quamichan (Kw'amutsun) was the largest of eight Cowichan villages. Not much is known about the village because there are varying historical accounts, but in all of them, the Quamichan village was large. The first European census of the village counted 1,700 people.
In pre-colonial times, the Quamichan people survived and thrived by fishing, hunting, and gathering wild berries, roots, and other edibles. By the start of the 20th century, they were farming, fishing, hunting, and working on the railroads and in canneries, and their population had been reduced to fewer than 300 through smallpox and other diseases.
The Somena (S'amuna') were one of several Hul̓q̓umín̓um̓-speaking people in the Cowichan Valley region of Vancouver Island and were distinct from the neighboring Quamichan people until they were forced to merge with six other tribes to form the Cowichan Tribes.
Online resources relating to any of the Cowichan Tribes, its villages, people, institutions, or events are appropriate for this part of our guide. These may include the tribal governments, tribal institutions, businesses, enterprises, schools, medical facilities, programs, or events, along with entities owned by Cowichan individuals.
Recommended Resources
Located on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, Cowichan is home to the unceded and traditional territories of the Quw’utsun, Malahat, Ts’uubaa-asatx, Halalt, Penelakut, Stz’uminus, Lyackson, Pauquachin, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht peoples, as well as others, descendants of groups who have inhabited the region for thousands of years. This site focuses on tourism opportunities, such as things to see or do, places to eat or drink, places to stay, and trip planning.
https://www.tourismcowichan.com/
Cowichan Tribes (Quw’utsun) is the band government of the Cowichan people in British Columbia, although six other tribes were amalgamated into one band when the tribe was created. Member tribes are discussed, along with the tribal government, election codes, member services, employment opportunities, and a community bulletin board. News and announcements are posted on the tribal website, which includes educational jurisdictions and child and family jurisdiction.
https://cowichantribes.com/
Owned and operated by Cowichan Tribes, Empress Avenue Media is a boutique, full-service digital agency on Vancouver Island that offers film and video production, web development, application development, branding, graphic design, project management and development, business marketing, social media marketing, consultations, and related services, which are featured here, with a portfolio of its work, an introduction to its team, and an informational blog. Its location and contacts are included.
https://www.empressave.com/
Khowutzun Development Corporation
The KDC was formed to build partnerships to develop and support enterprises and opportunities for Cowichan Tribes, the largest First Nation band in British Columbia. Its agendas are sought through employment and training opportunities, economic development ventures, the preservation of cultural initiatives, a youth program, and environmental issues. Cowichan industries include forestry, technology, and cannabis. Contacts and a business directory are featured on the site.
https://khowutzun.com/
