Kate and William to visit community during week-long tour next month

There are about 1,600 people in Bella Bella, which the royals will visit

The Heiltsuk people have lived in the area for at least 9,000 years

They have lived on the coast of British Columbia for at least 9,000 years - and the Heiltsuk people are now set to receive a visit from British royals William and Kate in a month.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will embark on a week-long tour of British Columbia from September 24 and October 1.

Their itinerary will take them to the remote community of Bella Bella, whose inhabitants used to occupy about 6,000 square miles of land on the central coast.

To this day, the Heiltsuk people remain in the Great Bear Rainforest, the world's largest coastal temperate rain forest.

Kate and William will visit the Heiltsuk people of Bella Bella (pictured) during their tour of British Columbia in September

The Heiltsuk (pictured during an annual celebration of the native culture) have occupied their territories in British Columbia for at least 9,000 years

The Heiltsuk live in Bella Bella, on the west coast of British Columbia (pictured). They used to occupy about 6,000 square miles of land on the central coast

The government of British Columbia agreed to protect the Great Bear Rainforest in February this year - and in the same breath recognized Aboriginal people's rights to be included in the decision-making process.

The deal also provided more economic opportunities for the 26 First Nations located within the region, including the Heiltsuk, the Globe And Mail reported at the time.

Representatives celebrated the agreement was celebrated during a ceremony in Bella Bella's gymnasium.

First Nations chiefs joined wearing their traditional clothes while children sang to British Columbia's Premier Christy Clark.

The royals are scheduled to visit the Heiltsuk community (pictured in Bella Bella on Monday, September 26, as part of their tour of British Columbia

Nowadays, there are about 1,600 inhabitants left in Bella Bella (pictured is the downtown area). They speak Hailhzaqvla, which is part of the Wakashan family of languages

The Heiltsuk uphold the Gvi'las, the laws of their ancestors. They are pictured protesting pipelines and oil tanker traffic in their land in their territories

The ceremony encapsulated one of Bella Bella's greatest challenges: balancing 9,000 years of cultural development with present-day concerns.

The Heiltsuk people had occupied Bella Bella for about 9,000 years when Europeans arrived in the 18th century.

Archaeological searches have uncovered sites dating as far back a 7190 BC, according to the Heiltsuk Cultural Education Center.

This suggests that the Heiltsuk have inhabited the region for at least 9,000 years.

There were originally five groups within the Heiltsuk community. Each one had its own territory, chief and dialect, the Canadian Encyclopedia states.

People became part of one of the Heiltsuk groups if one of their parents belonged to it.

The community also distinguished between five levels of hierarchy within society. Ranks went from head chief, chief and noble to commoner and member of the lower class.

The Heiltsuk were skilled hunters, fishers, gatherers and traders - and these activities shaped their economy.

Salmon was a staple part of their diet, which explains why many camps settled near salmon streams.

During the winter, the Heiltsuk regrouped in larger villages meant to be occupied seasonally.

The rest of the year, smaller groups went out in other harvesting areas.

There were originally five groups in the Heiltsuk community. Each had its own territory, chief and dialect. Pictured left are Heiltsuk-owned house posts and right is a Heiltsuk totem post

Present-day Heiltsuk are involved in the fishing, forestry and herring roe industries. Members of the community are pictured in an archive shot

Kate and William (pictured) are expected to bring their two children, three-year-old Prince George and one-year-old Princess Charlotte, to British Columbia with them

Europeans likely first made contact with the Heiltsuk in the 1780s, and began trading with them within a decade.

The Heiltsuk became active members of the fur trade early in the 19th century.

Canada's Hudson's Bay Company built the Fort McLoughlin depot on Campbell Island in 1833, which relied on fur provided by the Heiltsuk.

A string of epidemics decreased the Heiltsuk's population during the second half of the 19th century.

Nowadays, there are about 1,600 inhabitants left in Bella Bella. They speak Hailhzaqvla, which is part of the Wakashan family of languages spoken in British Columbia.

Present-day Heiltsuk are involved in the fishing, forestry and herring roe industries. They uphold the Gvi'las, the laws of their ancestors.

Kate and William are expected to bring their two children, three-year-old Prince George and one-year-old Princess Charlotte, to British Columbia with them.

The royals are scheduled to visit Bella Bella on Monday, September 26.

'We are very pleased that our community is included in their tour of British Columbia, Chief Marilyn Slett, chief councillor of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council, said in a release.