The Bellacoola were Salish speaking, yet they more closely resembled
the Kwakiutl in their art and ceremonies. The Bellacoola had potlatches. They
had a close cultural relationship with the Kwakiutl and other northern people,
rather than with other Salish speaking people. That is probably the result of a
long separation from other Salish speaking people. Linguistic studies have
shown that the Bellacoola had been separated for a long time. Also, their
origin does not involve places where the other Salish groups are located.
Historic records show that the Bellacoola had been completely separated from
other Salish groups.
Author: Sara Wenner
link 2http://www.thewildwest.org/native_american/society/BellaCoola.html