Our Land
British Columbia, the most western province in Canada, is a land bigger than many countries, a land rich in resources. From the ocean shores on the west coast, to the vast forests, abundant lakes and rivers, fertile valleys, rolling grasslands and majestic mountain ranges throughout, this land has given us all that we have needed from the time that we were breathed into being. Our ancestors have told us it will always be so if we treat it with respect.
The Aboriginal way of life has been shaped by the land, climate and creatures of our home territory. The lands, oceans, and rivers gave abundantly, feeding and clothing our people. We stepped lightly on the land and took only what was needed. Along the coast, cedar and salmon gave us canoes, homes, clothing and plentiful food. Further inland, we made our homes in the earth or from the skins of larger animals. We gathered herbs and vegetables from our land and hunted and fished to feed our families.
Today, we continue to share a common respect for the land and its creatures and we are teaching our children to be respectful of the earth and its inhabitants and to honour our First Nations traditions and culture.
Map of British Columbia
