1778Who is reputedly the first European to set foot in British Columbia, Canada?
Captain James Cook, the famed British explorer and navigator, became the first known European to set foot in what is now British Columbia when he anchored at Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island on 29 March 1778. His arrival marked a significant turning point in the region’s history, initiating direct contact between European explorers and the Indigenous peoples who had called the Pacific coast home for thousands of years. Cook’s visit is particularly notable because, despite prior Spanish voyages, he was the first to accurately map the northwest coastline and interact extensively with local First Nations communities. On the 248th anniversary of this event, Cook’s legacy is both commemorated and critically examined, especially in light of recent actions highlighting the enduring impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples in British Columbia.
