The Coast Salish Indians occupy an important position in the study of the native races of British Columbia. Despite the fact that they differ in many essentials from the groups of the north, in later times they have acquired so much of northern culture and are at the same time so closely connected with the Indians of the Interior that they are perhaps more typical of the native life of the Province than any other group. Not only did they occupy a large number of the islands of the Coast and thus have access to ideal fishing and hunting grounds, but they also had footholds far inland along the lower reaches of the Fraser River. Because of this wide dispersion throughout a diversified environment, they acquired a great variety of culture traits, and this characteristic has been further stimulated by contact with the northern peoples through the facilities of the maritime waterways.
