The territory of the 'Namgis First Nation spans the islands of the southern Queen Charlotte Strait (Malcolm Island and Cormorant Island), which include the town of Alert Bay and the former utopian community of Sointula, established by Finnishimmigrants. Both communities are offshore across Broughton Strait from the town of Port McNeill, which is on Vancouver Island. The majority of 'Namgis First Nation territory, however, spans the basin of the Nimpkish River and Nimpkish Lake and adjoining parts of the interior of northern Vancouver Island.
The main village of the 'Namgis is Yalis, on Cormorant Island adjacent to Alert Bay. The original village site was at a place called Xwalkw on the north side of the mouth of the Nimpkish River, which in the Kwak'wala language is called Gwani.
Indian reserves
Indian reserves under the governance of the 'Namgis First Nation are:[1]
_a_Kwakwaka%27wakw_big_house.jpg){kind=small}