Nootka Island facts for kids

CCG IRB Station Nootka Lightstation on Nootka Island

Nootka Island is an island located right next to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It covers an area of about 510 square kilometers (197 square miles). This island is separated from Vancouver Island by a body of water called Nootka Sound and its smaller inlets. Nootka Island is part of a larger administrative area known as the Strathcona Regional District.

The name "Nootka" was given by early European explorers. They heard a word from the local Nuu-chah-nulth language that meant "go around, go around." The Europeans likely thought the native people were talking about the island itself. Both the Spanish and later the English used this word for the island and the sound, believing they were naming them after the people who lived there.

In the 1980s, the First Nations peoples in this area decided to call themselves Nuu-chah-nulth. This name means "along the outside (of Vancouver Island)." An older term for these groups of people was "Aht." This word means "people" in their language. You can find "Aht" in the names of many of their subgroups and places, like Yuquot, Mowachaht, Kyuquot, and Opitsaht.

Nootka Island's Climate

The climate on Nootka Island is generally mild, but it gets a lot of rain. This is typical for coastal areas in British Columbia. The island experiences warm summers and cool, wet winters.