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47-620: The settlement is named for the subgroup of the Nuu-chah-nulth people known as Ahousaht First Nation . Ahousaht First Nation combines the Ahousaht, Manhousaht and Keltsmaht under one administration. The other main settlement of Ahousaht First Nation is at Marktosis . 49°17′00″N 126°4′00″W  /  49.28333°N 126.06667°W  / 49.28333; -126.06667 This article about an Indian reserve in British Columbia

94-491: A "house" and each "house" has a name. Maquinna is the Tyee (the head-ranked Haw̓ił of Ahousaht). As a collective, the three Haw̓iiḥ comprise the principal Hereditary Chiefs of Ahousaht. Currently these individuals are: Ha’wiih of the four tribes that amalgamated with Ahousaht: Kelthsmaht – Vargas Island, Manhousaht, Qwatswiaht, and Oo-in-mitis, continue to be recognized as principal Hawiih. These individuals are: The Oo-in-mitis seat

141-596: A distinct group reflecting Indigenous peoples history in North America. Supported by a churches, labour, and other citizen groups, the NIB mounted massive opposition to the government plan. On June 3, 1970, the NIB presented the response by Harold Cardinal and the Indian Chiefs of Alberta (entitled "Citizens Plus" but commonly known as " The Red Paper ") to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and ministers of his Cabinet. Startled by

188-490: A large community hall, a gym, a youth center, a restaurant, a health center, and a school for children K-12. Recently, work has begun to expand the elementary/high school better to meet the needs of the students and the community. Ahousaht's population of approximately 1900 people has been growing at an average rate of 2.6% per year; it is projected to increase to 3125 by 2024. Seventy-seven percent of members are under 40 years of age and 41 percent are under 19 years. Marktosis

235-613: A minimum of 13 to 15 Ahousaht member-owned businesses in the region. These include restaurants, a gallery, tour companies, water taxis, contractors and professional services. A protocol agreement signed in 2002 with Pacific National Aquaculture (now Mainstream Canada) provides access to Ahousaht traditional marine territory for the siting of salmon farms in exchange for employment opportunities, tenure fees and environmental monitoring and management improvements. Opportunities for farming indigenous species (e.g., Chinook) are being examined. The aquaculture industry provides 60 to 70 jobs annually for

282-513: A nation, there is to be elected one council member, to a maximum of 12 members (as per the Canadian Indian Act .) The elected Council's role is to fulfill requirements of the Indian Act . Overall, both Ha’wiih and Chief and Council represent the Ahousaht membership and honour our long history. As changes were made in governing in the early 1950s, Ahousaht's first Council was appointed by

329-415: A new process for holding elections. One significant change will be the change from two to four-year terms for councillors. Another important change is the expansion of the franchise to include all members of the nation. Previously, only those members living 'on-reserve' (I.R15 - Marktosis reserve) were allowed to participate as voters. The council is responsible for appointments to other boards on behalf of

376-594: A person a smaller portion of the territory, to own and care for, in return for great service to the nation and the chief. Our history tells of two, which were created by our Haw̓iiḥ to recognize the constant support provided by these two individuals. Their importance was such that, at a potlatch, they were recognized before the Haw̓ił when a Haw̓iiḥ dance was performed. The Ahousaht have oral history, which goes back 17 or 18 generations, of all of our Haw̓iiḥ. It tells of when one hereditary position became three. Each Haw̓ił heads up

423-519: A strong interest in returning to their traditional territory if housing and employment were available. The land reserves of the Ahousaht, and of neighboring coastal nations, are relatively small in size compared to the size of the population. They believe that the reserve designations may have been small because members of the Ahousaht nation, at the time of contact, did not occupy extensive territory on land. They relied strongly on oceanic resources as their main staple of dietary and other needs. The ocean

470-507: A Ḥaḥuułi that includes land, sea, resources and people within his territory. This had clearly defined boundaries, and people who watched over the boundaries between indigenous nations. The Ahousaht have stories in our history that emphasize the importance of the boundaries are and how they were protected. Haw̓iiḥ have the power to create t̓iquwił , a Seat. (It is a distinction related to historic "nobles" in European history.) The chief may grant

517-548: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ahousaht First Nation Ahousaht First Nation is a First Nation government based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia , Canada. It administers the community of Ahousaht, British Columbia , which encompasses much of Clayoquot Sound . The Ahousaht are a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council . It is led by Chief A-in-chut (meaning 'everyone depends on you') Shawn Atleo and

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564-678: Is a forestry company purchased in recent years by a group of nations in the Clayoquot Sound area. Formerly, they were known as the 'Central Region Group' of first nations; however, the structure of the Nuu-chah-nulth has changed from the three regional groups into one large group again. Government transfers make up 24 percent of total income for persons 15 years and over (contrasted against 13 percent in Ucluelet and eight percent in Tofino). In 2003-04 Weyerhauser transferred two parcels of land adjacent to

611-693: Is a good person to contact about such opportunities. Despite census figures of 13 to 14 percent unemployment, locals report much higher rates. Chronically high unemployment and the large young population about to or recently entered into the workforce create significant pressure for job creation, education and training. Of residents 15 years and over 19 percent have less than a Grade 9 education, 56 percent Grade 9–13, 19 percent trade or other non-university and 6 percent university. Social and health issues continue to provide significant challenges for this remote community and impact work-readiness. There are also several problems with community infrastructure. Housing shortage

658-407: Is a significant issue and a recent study indicated there are 136 dwellings in moderate to poor condition. Further, almost half of the existing reserve (I.R15) is inaccessible to housing or other social development due to poor initial planning of the infrastructure layout. The community's dumpsite is just above the middle marker of the reserve, and makes expansion of housing into the northern portion of

705-460: Is currently vacant. A person is also appointed to the official role of welcoming visitors. Ḥaayuupinuuł (Bill Keitlah, Jr.) currently serves that role as a Ha’ilth for the Ahousaht. Keitlah Jr. acquired the seat from his father, Bill Keitlah, Sr., in 2004. In the case of Kelthsmaht, the beach keeper (welcoming person) was appointed or had a t̓iquwił. He is Kanupiit (Rocky Titian). The Ahousaht Taayii haw̓ił , Maquinna (Lewis George), inherited

752-444: Is no longer used for such work. As such, the Ahousaht do not wish to see this land transferred into other private hands, as this land was never seceded to the church, or to the government. Assembly of First Nations The Assembly of First Nations ( French : Assemblée des Premières Nations , AFN ) is an assembly of Canadian First Nations ( Indian bands ) represented by their chiefs . Established in 1982 and modelled on

799-419: Is the chief of Ahousaht. Ahousaht is named after the village of Ahous (ʕaaḥuus) on the west side of Vargas Island, with the people of ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ being called the " People with their backs to the mountains and land ". The Nation's territory encompasses much of Clayoquot Sound. Some 36 percent of Ahousaht members live at Marktosis Indian Reserve (IR # 15), located on Flores Island north of Tofino. Marktosis has

846-629: Is the only one of 25 Ahousaht reserves that is occupied year-round. Others are traditional fishing stations and areas of seasonal resource extraction. They are not habitable for year-round settlement. Many of these historic reserves, designated by the government of the day, tended to mark the general areas that were inhabited by the various members of the nation at the time of contact. It was only after contact and other changes that many Ahousaht members came to live on I.R 15 (Marktosis). All Ahousaht reserves are accessible only by boat or floatplane. The Nation reports that many members living "away from home" have

893-485: The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), representing urban and off-reserve Métis, non-status and status Indians. It also represents some Inuit. The National Indian Brotherhood (NIB) was a national political body made up of the leadership of the various provincial and territorial organizations (PTOs); it lobbied for changes to federal and provincial policies to support Indigenous rights and sovereignty. The following year,

940-527: The Indian Association of Alberta . The Métis and non-status Indians set up a separate organization in 1971, known as the Native Council of Canada (NCC). It originally was made up of regional and provincial associations of these peoples. By the late 20th century, an increasing number of Aboriginal peoples were living in urban areas. With further development and led by Jim Sinclair , in 1993 it became

987-594: The Taayi Haw̓ił - Maquinna (Lewis George). Ahousaht has about 2,214 members, and about 36% live in Marktosis Indian Reserve No. 15 on Flores Island . ("Marktosis" is an English transliteration of Maaqtusiis , the name of the reserve in the Nuu-chah-nulth language ). The Ahousaht Nation is the most populous First Nation on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Ahousaht First Nation is the largest among

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1034-638: The United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1974, until such time as an international Indigenous organization could be formed. When the World Council of Indigenous Peoples was formed on Nuu-chah-nulth territory the following year, under the leadership of George Manuel, it took the place of the NIB at the United Nations . The NIB began to have its own tensions. Individual chiefs and regional groupings begin to chafe because their only access to

1081-599: The United Nations General Assembly , it emerged from the National Indian Brotherhood , which dissolved in the late 1970s. The aims of the organization are to protect and advance the aboriginal and treaty rights and interests of First Nations in Canada, including health, education, culture and language. It represents primarily status Indians . The Métis and non-status Indians have organized in

1128-529: The AFN. In early 2013, the press reported that documents revealed that the AFN had been operating together with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to provide information and conduct surveillance on members of First Nations communities. This was in response to their joint concerns over disruptions due to mass protests over issues of sovereignty, land claims, and related tensions. Reporters acquired

1175-694: The British Columbia Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations . More recently, he was elected as the overall leader of the Assembly of First Nations. In addition to the governing body through the Ha’wiih, Ahousaht has a mandated body of elected officials. This is the Ahousaht Chief and Council. The number of councillors is determined by the overall size of the population. For every 100 members of

1222-479: The Ha’wiih rather than elected by the membership. The late Paul Sam, (Stanley Sam's father), was the first Chief Councillor. The Ahousaht adopted the elected representative system, as required by the Canadian Indian Act . The Councillors and Chief Councillor were usually elected on two-year terms; however, due to a court decision (Courbier decision) this has caused changes to be made, and Ahousaht are adopting

1269-458: The Ha’wiih. The main economic activities in the Ahousaht community are tourism, finfish aquaculture, forestry and fishing (including shellfish). The latter two have declined in recent years. Members are employed seasonally in silviculture, water taxi transport, construction, tourism, forestry and aquaculture. There are five enterprises operated by Ahousaht Administration, including natural resources, tourism, grocery and transport ventures, as well as

1316-584: The NIB launched its first major campaign, which opposed the assimilationist proposals of the 1969 White Paper . In that, the Minister of Indian Affairs , Jean Chrétien , had proposed abolition of the Indian Act , rejection of Aboriginal land claims , and assimilation of First Nations people into the Canadian population, with the status of other ethnic minorities, who were largely descendants of immigrants, rather than as

1363-555: The Nation. A very important note of merit goes to Albert Frank Sr. of Ahousaht. In 2009, he became the top performer for all of Mainstream's operations (in fish husbandry) worldwide, raising the bar and proving the worth of local knowledge in finfish aquaculture operations. One Contracting company, Cover Creek Enterprises, is privately owned by members of Ahousaht and currently employs approximately ten Ahousaht members through contracts with Iisaak Forest Resources. Iisaak Forest Resources (IFR)

1410-452: The Nuu-chah-nulth peoples. The Nation is a confederation of multiple former groups: the Ahousaht (ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ), Manhousaht (Maan̓uusʔatḥ), Kelthsmaht (qiłcmaʔatḥ), Paneetl-aht (Paniiƛʔatḥ), Qwatswiaht (Qʷaacwiiʔatḥ), O-inmitisaht (Ḥuuʔinmitisʔatḥ), and Otsosaht (ʕuc̓uusʔahtḥ). These groups began to join as a confederation before the arrival of the Europeans to their respective shores. Andrew Paul

1457-764: The Southeast British colonies. Other groups formed later to enter into treaties with colonial governments led by ethnic French, Spanish and English. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a number of regional Indigenous organizations were formed in Canada, such as the Grand Indian Council of Ontario and Quebec, and the Allied Tribes of B.C. After World War II, additional provincial and territorial organizations were founded and continued to expand their memberships in an effort to assert their rights to land and to protect their cultures. Indigenous activists under

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1504-569: The Treaty and aboriginal rights that had been guaranteed by the Imperial Crown, if Canada took over its own governance. They believed that strong national leadership from the Chiefs was essential. The Chiefs formalized their governance structure, compromised by incorporating a "Confederacy" composed largely of the NIB leadership, and made the NIB, an incorporated body, its administrative secretariat. They used

1551-638: The United Nations General Assembly as a model in conceiving how the new Assembly of First Nations would be structured and operate. The Chiefs held their first assembly as "the Assembly of First Nations" (AFN) in Penticton, British Columbia , in April 1982. The new structure gave membership and voting rights directly to individual chiefs representing First Nations, rather than to representatives of their provincial/territorial organizations. This structure

1598-651: The audience. The role of the Haw̓iiḥ (Hereditary Chiefs) in the Ahousaht governing system is to look after their Ḥahuułi (territory and resources). The Ahousaht people have maintained their reliance of the Haw̓iiḥ . Under the Haw̓iiḥ system, laws outline chieftainships and governance. The keepers of these laws are the Witwaak . No Haw̓ił (Hereditary Chief) is considered above the law. Every Hereditary Chief has advisors so that no Chief makes totally independent decision. His Council (not

1645-474: The elected council, per se; rather, the people who are advisors to the chief) is depended upon for good, solid advice, before he makes any decision for Ahousaht. No Haw̓ił speaks for himself, unless he has good news, or something good to share. All Haw̓iiḥ have speakers or spokesmen, who are trained from an early age for these duties. Speakers must be fluent in Nuu-chah-nultha and have a very strong knowledge of

1692-464: The existing reserve for community expansion. Plans are underway for a five-year development on District Lot 363 and 363A. The new development is designed to include approximately 200 new homes, an artist's village, cultural centre, new high school and economic development facilities. Ahousaht is always in talks with Business groups, government, and other individuals to seek out every possible economic venture that they can. John Rampanen (Chief Councillor)

1739-452: The history of the Haw̓iił seat (including lineage) and his ḥaḥuułi. Some analysts have described the Haw̓iiḥ system as being similar to fiefdoms, but the Ahousaht describe it as a more inter-connected system of governance, with numerous accountability mechanisms. No Ha’wiith can hold tremendous power without the support of numerous people who are the bearers of customary laws. Each Haw̓ił holds

1786-568: The issue of Indigenous education in Canada. Their work contributed to the government's ending the Canadian Residential School System , which had been long opposed by Indigenous people. It was also a first step in the push for Indigenous self-governance. In 1973, the Calder case decision was issued. "You have more rights than I thought you did," Prime Minister Trudeau told the NIB leaders. The NIB gained consultative status with

1833-580: The leadership of controversial lawyer William Wuttunee from Red Pheasant First Nation founded the National Indian Council (NIC) in 1961 to represent their peoples of Canada, including treaty/status Indians, non-status Indians, and the Métis , though not the Inuit , who took a different path. This organization, however, collapsed in 1967 as the three groups failed to achieve consensus on their positions. At

1880-704: The national scene was through their respective PTOs. The chiefs complained they were not being heard. In 1978, in an effort to enable more opinions to be heard, NIB President Noel Starblanket organized an "All Chiefs Conference" on Indian Self-Government . The Chiefs were delighted with the opportunity. At a second All Chief Conference, the Chiefs announced that the All Chief Conference would be "the one and only voice of Indian people in Canada." That same year Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Canada would patriate its constitution; essentially take over its governance. NIB and other groups questioned what would happen to

1927-514: The reserve impossible (due to health and safety regulations). Solid and sewage waste management is insufficient and the power supply via underwater lines is projected to last for another five to ten years. Recently, Ahousaht challenged the ownership of land by the Catholic Church to the land that had housed Kakawis Family Development Centre. This land had served as a treatment centre for many people, including members of Ahousaht; now, however, it

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1974-718: The same period as the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP). Reflecting changes in where Aboriginal peoples are living, it represents primarily urban Indians, including off-reserve status Indians and Inuit . Indigenous peoples of North America have created a variety of political organizations. Examples preceding European contact include the Iroquois Confederacy , or Haudenosaunee , the Blackfoot Confederacy , and Powhatan Confederacy in three different regions. There were other confederacies in New England, New York, and in

2021-543: The same time, other Indigenous activism was rising. Following the government's publication of its 1969 White Paper , George Manuel , Noel Doucette, Andrew Delisle, Omer Peters, Jack Sark, Dave Courchene, Roy Sam, Harold Sappier, Dave Ahenakew, Harold Cardinal, and Roy Daniels founded and incorporated the National Indian Brotherhood in 1970. It was intended as an umbrella organization for the various provincial and territorial organizations of status Indians, such as

2068-534: The seat from his late father, Earl George. Earl George first passed the seat to his eldest son, Uu-qua-qruum (Corbett George). When Uu-qua-qruum (Corbett George) encountered some difficulty in his life, Earl George took the seat back. Just prior to his passing, he named Maquinna (Lewis George) as his successor at Hupacasath. In November 2007, Maquinna (Lewis George) held a major potlatch to declare his seat. Ah-in-chut (Shawn Atleo) acquired his seat from his father ʔuumiik (Dr. Richard Atleo). Ah-in-chut (Shawn Atleo) became

2115-529: The strong opposition to the White Paper, the Prime Minister told the delegation that the White Paper recommendations would not be imposed against their will. In 1972, the NIB submitted their policy paper Indian Control of Indian Education to the federal government, which generally accepted this proposal to devolve control of Indigenous education to the bands and reserves. The NIB gained national recognition on

2162-502: Was adopted in July 1985, as part of the Charter of the Assembly of First Nations. The AFN depends upon the federal government for most of its funding. First Nations activists have sometimes accused it of being obsequious to the government as a result, and not sufficiently representative of the larger First Nations community. But there is also widespread Indigenous support for continued operation of

2209-608: Was considered to be "the garden" of the people; hence, colonial authorities may have assumed that the people needed little land-base to supply their long-term needs. The Ahousaht is known for is its rich tradition of song and dance. The young men, led by Joseph George Sr., offer a thunderous voice for the nation when performing their art. A new group, the Soulshakers, has become widely known for not only continuing to share this history of song, but also for composing new and exciting songs/dances to share with family, friends and outsiders in

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