The Nuxalk people have had their own law since they descended from the eyelashes of the sun from the house of Alkw’ntam.
“Our ancestors used their teachings to create these laws and to build a complex, resilient, and effective society,” the Nuxalk Nation states on its website. “They documented our knowledge system so that future generations would continue to learn and practise Nuxalk ways of being in the world.”
Now, for the first time, this Indigenous Nation based in Bella Coola, B.C. is showcasing its rich culture at the Museum of Anthropology of B.C. It’s the world’s first museum exhibition solely devoted to the Nuxalk Nation.
Nuxalk Strong: Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun includes belongings housed in private collections and from the MOA, along with five other museums: Royal British Columbia Museum (Victoria), Burke Museum (Seattle), Glenbow Museum (Calgary), Manitoba Museum (Winnipeg), and Museum of Vancouver. The co-curators are Dr. Snxakila–Clyde Tallio, who is director of culture and language for Nuxalk Nation, and Dr. Jennifer Kramer, who is the MOA Pacific Northwest curator, Pacific Northwest.
Museum exhibits unique Nuxalk aesthetic and style
“The display of these belongings expresses the importance of Nuxalk reconnection with their material heritage, made by the hands of their Ancestors,” the MOA website states. “Depicting the distinct and unique Nuxalk aesthetic and style, these treasures continue to inspire contemporary Nuxalk carpenters, artists and weavers to create ceremonial regalia, masks, rattles and other cherished items to once again tell the Smayusta—ancestral family origin stories.”
Moreover, the exhibition illustrates the Nuxalk Nation’s efforts to revive ancestral government, laws, and protocols. In addition, it draws attention to measures being taken to restore the Nuxalk language land stewardship practices, as well as awaken Nuxalk spirituality and ceremonial practices.
The Nuxalk Nation has a population of 1,830 living on- and off-reserve, according to Statistics Canada. It’s part of the Wuikinuxv-Kitasoo-Nuxalk Tribal Council.
Nuxalk Strong: Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun continues at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC until January 5, 2026. For more information, visit the museum’s website. Follow Pancouver on X @PancouverMedia and Bluesky @pancouver.bsky.social. Pancouver is also on Instagram @PancouverMedia. In addition, follow Charlie Smith on Bluesky @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social.
