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People group profile · PG043406

The Heiltsuk of Canada

The Heiltsuk of Canada, numbering about 2,800 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Central Coast British Columbia people whose presence on Triquet Island dates to as early as 12,000 BCE, dispersed groups united into one community around the Hudson's Bay Company's 1833 Fort McLoughlin, marking milestones through potlatch ceremonies.

They are an indigenous people in the North American Indigenous people cluster of the North American Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak English.

Pray for the HeiltsukPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Heiltsuk people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash: Heiltsuk

Fast facts

Country
Canada
Population
2,800
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
North American Indigenous
Primary language
English (eng)
Primary religion
Protestantism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
10% or Greater but Less than 15%
GSEC ?
10% or Greater Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Moderately Reached People Group
Region
Northern America, Americas
Location
British Columbia province: Bella Bella and Kitasoo villages, Rivers Inlet area

Where they live

Gospel status

The Heiltsuk are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Heiltsuk

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Protestantism · Christianity

Primary language

English

100% speak English

Gospel resources in English

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories available

Films

  • JESUS (English, North American Indigenous)

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Heiltsuk

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  2. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  3. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  4. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.

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