"Bella Coola" is the common designation of those Indians who, until a few years ago, inhabited the valley of the Bella Coola River in Central British Columbia. Linguistically, the Bella Coola form an isolated island of Salish-speaking people separated from others of the same stock by tribes of Athapaskan and Kwakiutl lineage. Culturally, they belong to the central section of the North Pacific Coast area. Social Studies Bulletin Department of Education.