Nanoose First Nation

They are Coast Salish people, and one of the most northern tribes on the east side of Vancouver Island.

They speak Hul’q’umi’num’, which is 1 of 3 branches of the Halkomelem dialect spoken from Nanoose to Oregon.

The name comes from the word “Naus” which means “the way in the harbour”.

There are many spelling variants of Snaw-naw-as such as Snonoose, Sno-no-was, Nuas, and Nanooa and Snuwnuwus.

[2] The Nanoose First Nation is a member government of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council.