First Nations
In Nanaimo, people of aboriginal descent are not simply a memory. While there are certainly relics of the old native life preserved throughout the city, we are also fortunate to have a living voice from a significant population of First Nations peoples. The local nation is called Snuneymuxw, a Coast Salish people.
The Arts One: First Nations program at Malaspina provides not only a venue for aboriginal students to get formal education in matters relating to their nation and heritage; it's also open to non-natives, providing a unique opportunity for our two cultures to have some reconciliation and mutual understanding.
Although present-day First Nations of the area don't claim ownership of the large amounts of local petroglyphs, it's still appropriate to mention the petroglyphs on this page. They are ancient pictures carved into the living rock, usually believed to have been associated with powerful rituals. There are some photos and comments in our Nanaimo Area Historical Photos section on our forum.