Who lived in the region of present-day British Columbia before European explorers arrived?

Before the arrival of European explorers, the region of present-day British Columbia was home to approximately 80,000 Indigenous peoples.12

The coastal areas were dominated by several distinct groups, including the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakiutl, Bella Coola, Tsimshian, and Haida peoples. These groups developed sophisticated economies centered on marine resources and the use of cedar trees, utilizing advanced tools like toggling harpoons for whaling. They lived in large, multi-family cedar dwellings and maintained extensive trade networks that extended north-south into California and east-west into the interior. Their social structures were highlighted by the potlatch ceremony, which marked significant life events through the competitive distribution of wealth.1

In the interior and plateau regions, various groups resided, including tribes such as the Shuswap, Lillooet, and Ntlakapamux, many of whom spoke Salishan languages.3