Early History (until 1774)
British Columbia, before the arrival of the Europeans, was home to many Indigenous peoples speaking more than 30 different languages, including Babine, Beaver, Carrier, Tsilhqot'in, Gitksan, Haida, Halkomelem, Kaska, Kutenai, St'at'imcets, Nisga'a, Nuu-chah-nulth, Nuxálk, Sekani, Secwepemc, Sinixt, Sḵwxwú7mesh, Tagish, Tahltan, Nlaka'pamux, Tlingit, Tsetsaut, and Tsimshian.
The abundance of natural resources, particularly salmon and cedar, enabled the development of a complex hierarchical society on the British Columbia Coast. With so much food being available, the peoples of the B.C. coast could focus their time on other pursuits such as art, politics, and warfare.
Read more about this topic: History Of British Columbia
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