Ahousaht First Nation - Introduction

Introduction

Ahousaht First Nation is the largest Nuu-chah-nulth Nation. The Nation is a confederation of multiple former tribes: the Ahousaht, Manhousaht, Kelthsmaht, Piniit-thlaht, Qwaacwi-aht, O-inmitisaht, and Otsosaht. This joining of nations began even before the arrival of the Europeans to their respective shores. Ahousaht’s population of approximately 1900 people has been growing at an average rate of 2.6% per year and is projected to increase to 3125 by 2024. Seventy-seven percent of members are under 40 years of age and 41 percent under 19 years. Ahousaht means people (aht) of Ahous, a small bay on the west side of Vargas Island. The Nation’s territory encompasses much of Clayoquot Sound. Currently 36 percent of Ahousaht members live at Marktosis Indian Reserve (IR # 15) located on Flores Island north of Tofino. Marktosis has 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 to better meet the needs of the students and the community.

Marktosis is the only one of 25 Ahousaht reserves occupied year-round. Others are traditional fishing stations and areas of seasonal resource extraction, considered uninhabitable for year-round settlement. Many of these 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 is only after contact that the bulk of members came to live on I.R 15 (Marktosis). All Ahousaht reserves are accessible only by boat or floatplane. The Nation reports that there is a strong interest among members living "away from home" to return if housing and employment were available.

An unfortunate note to make of the reserves of Ahousaht, and of neighboring coastal nations, is that they are relatively very tiny in size to the numbers of the population. It is believed that the reserve designations were tiny because the members of the Ahousaht nation, at the time of contact, relied very heavily on Oceanic resources as a main staple of dietary and other needs. Essentially, the ocean was considered to be "the garden" of the people; hence, it was presumed that little land-base was needed to fulfill the ongoing needs of the people.

A great strength that 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 our history of song, but also for composing new and exciting songs/dances to share with family, friends and with any who is there to see.