About Us

The Kwakiutl District Council is a Political organization representing nine of the fifteen bands of the Kwakwak'awakw (Kwak'wala speaking peoples). These bands are located on the northeastern and northwestern end of Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland between Comox Valley to the south and Smith Inlet to the north. Each of the bands has its own distinctive name but, as a result of the work of early anthropologists, these bands, as a group have come to be widely know as the Southern Kwakiutl. Because of this, the District Council has found it politically advantageous to use the term "Kwakiutl" for its name. Overall the Kwakiutl District Council, in its various capacities, represents aboriginal people in the Kwakiutl Nation.

Reconstituted in 1979 out of the earlier North Island District Council, the Kwakiutl District Council was founded upon principles based in our aboriginal Title.

The concept of Aboriginal Title holds that the Kwakwak'awakw are the rightful owners and managers of the lands, waters and natural resources that the ancestors of the Kwakwak'awakw have occupied and used since the beginning of time.  

Kwakiutl District Council Health (KDC Health) provides preventative and health promotion services for 6 member nations on-reserve residents on northern Vancouver Island. 

Treaty and Alliance of Friendship and Respect among the Kwakiutl First Nations

We, the leaders of the Kwakiutl First Nations, determined to preserve and fulfill the destiny and responsibilities set out for us by our ancestors, do hereby reassert our rights and duties that will stand forever.

• We stand by the teachings of our ancestors in proclaiming our First Nations to the World Community.
• We unite so strongly that the actions of each leader shall become the actions of the whole.
• We have placed, as our goal and pupose, attainment and protection of all the rights of humankind and shall support such efforts by other nations.
• By right of kinship with nature, we join in our efforts to protect the rights of the earth and the animal and plant life from destruction.
• Now, therefore, keeping each of its own face and form, but each abiding his own strength and wisdom, we put aside all contentions and doubt. We pledge our individual and collective efforts, our dignity and our lives so that the Kwakiutl First Nations will be returned to a rightful place of honour in the world community.
• Now, in the spirit of our ancestors before us, upon whom we have called for wisdom, we place our names.

Kwakiutl District Council Executive 2014-2016