Heiltsuk rising

"They tried to strip us of our culture." The Heiltsuk people have lived on B.C.’s central coast for more than 14,000 years — long before this place was called British Columbia. Then came smallpox and influenza, which reduced the population from more than 10,000 to just 200. Now a new Big House and land-based healing centre mark a remarkable moment for the Heiltsuk people. We visited Heiltsuk territory to learn more. Sign up to The Narwhal for more stories like this: thenarwhal.ca/newsletter