Ahousaht First Nation - Hereditary System

Hereditary System

The Ha’wiih (Hereditary Chief) role in our governing system is to look after their Ha- Ha’houlthee (territory and resources). The Ha’wiih system is still alive among Ahousat people. It is the most important part of our history. We have laws, under the Ha’wiih system, which outline chieftainships and governance. The keepers of these laws are the Wit-wok. No Ha’wilth (Hereditary Chief) is above the law. Every Hereditary Chief has advisors. No Chief can make his own decision. A Council (not the elected council, per se; rather, it is the people who are responsible to be an advisory to the chief) is depended upon for good, solid advice, before any decision is made for Ahousaht. No Ha’wilth speaks for himself, unless he has good news, or something good to share. All Ha’wiih have speakers, who are trained, from an early age, for these duties. Speakers must be fluent in our language and have a very strong knowledge of the history of the Ha’wilth seat (including lineage) and his Ha’houlthee. There are misconceptions about our Ha’wiih system being similar to fiefdoms, but people must understand that it is a much more inter-connected system of governance with numerous accountability mechanisms. No Ha’wiith can hold tremendous power without the support of a number of people who are the bearers of customary laws. Each Ha’wiith holds a Ha’houlthee that includes land, sea, resources and people within his territory, which had clearly defined boundaries and people who watched over the boundaries between nations. We have stories in our history, which tell of how important these boundaries are and how they were protected.

Ha’wiih have the power to create Dik-qo-wilth, Seat (a similar position could be the one of "noble". A person given their own 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 Ha’wilth to recognize the constant support provided by these two individuals. Their importance was such that, at a potlatch, they were recognized before the Ha’wilth when a Ha’wilth dance was performed.

The Ahousaht have oral history, which goes back 17 or 18 generations, of all of our Ha’wiih, and it includes when one hereditary position became three. Each Ha’wilth heads up a house and each house has a name. Maquinna is the Tyee (the head-ranked Ha’wilth of Ahousaht). As a collective, all three Ha’wiih comprise the principal Hereditary Chiefs of Ahousaht. Currently these individuals are:

• Maquinna: Lewis George
• Hi-yupin-ulth: Bill Keitlah Jr.
• Ah-in-chut: Shawn Atleo - Recently Shawn has been given the name A-aap wa-iik in a formal ceremony to mark his new position as leader of the Assembly of First Nations.Wikipedia entry for Shawn Ateo or on Facebook Facebook group portraying Shawn

Ha’wiih of the three tribes that amalgamated with Ahousaht: Kelthsmaht – Vargas Island, Manhousaht, Quatswiaht, and Oo-in-mitis, continue to be recognized by principal Hawiih. These individuals are:

• For Kelthsmat: Haan-uu-quii (Edgar Charlie)
• For Manhousaht: ?Uu-Kwa-Qum (James Swan)
• For Quatswiaht: Too-Moos (Ron George)

The Oo-in-mitis seat is currently vacant.

An appointee held the important role of welcoming visitors. In the case of Ahousaht, Hi-yupin-ulth (Bill Keitlah, Jr.) currently serves that role as a Ha’ilth. In the case of Kelthsmaht, the beach keeper (welcoming person) was appointed or had a Dik-o-wilth. He is Kanupiit (Rocky Titian). Our current Tyee Ha’wiih, Maquinna (Lewis George) acquired 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 and 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. Hi-yupin-ulth (Bill Keitlah Jr.) acquired his seat from his father, Bill Sr., in 2004. Ah-in-chut (Shawn Atleo) acquired his seat from his father Ooh-meek (Dr. Richard Atleo). Ah-in-chut (Shawn Atleo), recently the BC Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations has marked great success in his young life as a leader by becoming the newly elected leader of the Assembly of First Nations.