Our Culture
Our Language
We are Lik̓ʷala [“LEEK-wa-lah”, sometimes spelled as Liq̓ʷala] speaking peoples.
Lik̓ʷala is a dialect of Kwakwala, a northern Wakashan language spoken by the Ligwilda'xw peoples (which includes us!). Though we are revitalize our language and teaching it to our young ones, only a handful of fluent Lik̓ʷala speakers remain.
Our Governance System
We have been led by munmuntle (Chief Steven Dick) for over 40 years, who received his chieftainship from his late grandfather. His wife, Andrean Dick, is our other Band Councillor. Since time immemorial, our Nation’s leaders have cared for their families, their resources and the territory, created community, and upheld tradition through potlatches and feasting, making them natural leaders that our Nation follows by their own choice.
Our hereditary governance system is highly democratic, involving a cyclical, ongoing flow of feedback from our people, who each have a voice in the direction our ǧiǧəmē (Chief) takes our people and territory. When a big decision needs to be made, everyone in the community gets involved: our wives, sisters, brothers, children, and grandchildren. As we see it, we can only move forward if we’re moving forward together.
λakʷełḱɘnakʷ (Sophie Dick), Kwiakah Elder
“Before I was born, the Kwiakah people had hundreds of houses at Phillips Arm and were known as the strongest tribe, feared by others. Our village was well-defended and hard to attack.
Sadly, when blankets infected with smallpox were given to us, many died, and the survivors moved to places like Campbell River and Fort Rupert.
‘Kwiakah’ means ‘clubbing,’ showing our strength. My dad’s tomahawk, now in the Campbell River Museum, symbolizes our history and defense. Preserving our cultural heritage is vital for future generations. The Kwiakah people are strong, resilient, and deeply connected to our land and traditions.”
Our Core Values
If you talked to someone that knows us well—like one of our Elders or partners—they would have a lot to tell you about who we are, at our core.
We’re brave and visionary, finding new ways to do things that have seldom been done before.
We value our relationships with others, and greet them with warmth.
We’re giving and are generous with our knowledge and resources.
And, of course, we care deeply about the health of our lands, waters, and our world.
If this sparks your interest, we would be happy to hear from you or to talk to you about our current climate and conservation projects.
