The indigenous peoples of British Columbia have rich artistic and cultural traditions that span many Nations and have endured for thousands of years. Some of the most notable art forms and cultural practices include:
Ceremonial masks – Many coastal First Nations, like the Haida, Kwakwaka’wakw, and Nuu-chah-nulth, carve magnificent masks used in ceremonial dances and rituals. Masks often depict supernatural beings and creatures from tribal histories and traditions. Mask carving is a highly skilled art form that is passed down through generations.
Totem poles – Iconic totem poles were historically used by coastal Nations like the Kwakwaka’wakw to commemorate notable families, events, and creatures. Poles can stand over 30 meters tall and feature intricate carvings of animals, humans, and supernatural figures. Pole raising was an important ceremonial event and poles held deep cultural and symbolic meaning for communities.
Weaving – First Nations throughout BC are renowned for their woven works, especially Coast Salish weaving which makes use of cedar bark, plant fibers, and wool. Baskets, hats, blankets, robes and more were crafted not just for practical purposes but also communicated cultural identities and stories. Carefully designed patterns and motifs carried important meanings.
Wood carving – Coastal and Interior peoples carved utilitarian objects, masks, boxes, blankets and other items from red and yellow cedar, and other woods for both artistic expression and daily use. Skilled carvers depict animals, supernatural beings, and tribal crests with fine details.
Petroglyphs and pictographs – Rock art sites found across BC feature ancient carved or painted designs left by ancestors, providing a glimpse into spiritual beliefs, histories and lifeways from over 5,000 years ago. Sites like Lil’wat Nation’s Painted Rock contain red and black images of animals, humans, and symbols.
Storytelling and oral histories – Rich oral traditions form the basis of cultural identity, teaching of values and lessons. Colorful stories, histories, legendary figures, and experiences passed down from generation to generation in native languages help preserve intangible heritage.
songs, dances and regalia – First Nations perform sacred stories and pass on cultural knowledge through intricate songs, dances and elaborately designed regalia. Songlines, dance ceremonies, and ornate regalia related to clan or individual crests or achievements are beautifully expressive art forms that remain central to BC’s indigenous cultures.
Food preparation and harvesting traditions – Practices for gathering, preparing and sharing local foods sustain close relationships between communities and surrounding environments. Methods for fishing, hunting, plant gathering, food processing and preparation are underpinned by stewardship ethics and teach respect.
Potlatches and longhouses – Large community gatherings or potlatches are opportunities to celebrate significant events like births or deaths, uphold social structures through gift giving, and reinforce family histories through dances, songs and feasts. Coast Salish longhouses brought together extended families and functioned as cultural hubs.
Ceremonies and rituals – Diverse spiritual beliefs and practices are maintained through ceremonies recognizing life passages, the seasons, harvests, supernatural figures, or cleansing/healing. Ceremonies foster relationships between earth, ancestors and Creator through rituals, dances and prayers unique to each Nation.
Languages – With over 30 distinct First Nations languages in BC, these tongues remain keys to understanding indigenous worldviews, connection to place names and oral literatures. While endangered, efforts are ongoing to revitalize use through programs, immersion schools, dictionaries and new materials produced by communities.
This overview covers some of the most prominent forms of indigenous art and cultural traditions that persist in different regions of British Columbia, through lineages stretching back thousands of years. Practices like carving, weaving, storytelling, ceremonies and harvesting sustain deep relationships between First Peoples and their ancestral homelands, while reinforcing cultural continuity despite immense challenges.