Location: Nootka Island is located off the west coast of Vancouver Island. While anchoring in Resolution Cove on Bligh Island, across from Friendly Cove, the natives hollered “itchme nutka, itchme nutka”, meaning “go around” (to Yuquot), but Cook misinterpreted their calls, believing the name of the area to be Nootka. In March 1778, Captain James Cook of the Royal Navy became the first European to set foot on British Columbian soil when he visited Friendly Cove on Nootka Island.

The traditional territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation incorporates much of the western portion of Vancouver Island. Those same qualities still draw visitors to this magical place today, as there is so much to see and experience. Yuquot is the site of the first contact between Europeans and First Nations people in British Columbia.įirst Nations people came to magnificent Yuquot over 4,000 years ago, drawn by the rich sea life and natural resources, the mild climate, and the beautiful surroundings. The birthplace of British Columbia is the small community of Yuquot on Nootka Island, also known as Friendly Cove. The mountain scenery is unsurpassed in beauty, and the area teems with wildlife. Steeped in history and surrounded by the natural beauty of the west coast of Vancouver Island, Nootka Island and the surrounding sounds and inlets provide a paradise for sport anglers and outdoor adventurers seeking to explore and enjoy the magnificent wilderness surroundings. Nootka Island is a large island located on the remote and rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, enveloped by Nootka Sound, Nuchatlitz Inlet, Esperanza Inlet, Tahsis Inlet, and the Pacific Ocean.

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