INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 51 - No. 05—March 7, 2024 haas^i>sa Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Eric Plummer photo
An estimated 235 Tla-o-qui-aht members took to the floor at Hoobiyee on March 1 in Vancouver, singing and drumming while younger dancers performed. Pictured are dancers during the Kingfisher song. More on Hoobiyee on Pages 10 and 11.
‘We won’t have the opportunity to do this forever’ Grandfather & grandson team up to videotape traditional Ahousaht stories about culture, history and territory By Nora O’Malley Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor Ahousaht Tyee Ha’wilth Maquinna (Lewis George) and grandson Jaiden George are preserving the history and knowledge of their people by video recording extensive interviews with elders. In early spring 2023 they launched the project with elder Harold Little and have since sat down with 15 others. They have about eight more Ahousaht elders left to go on record with, offering up priceless “Haahuupa” (continuous teaching with care) about Ahousaht culture, history, and the region. “They are really generous with what they share,” said Jaiden, a future Ahousaht hereditary chief, who isa graduate of the Emily Carr University of Art + Design bachelor of fine arts and photography program. While Jaiden takes care of the camera work, lighting and audio for each interview, Maquinna facilitates the conversation with a list of 100 questions at the
ready. Each elder begins by introducing themselves in Nuu-chah-nulth language and then Maquinna delves into a range of topics from family lineage, territorial boundaries and cultural practices, to life growing up in the village, boat names and harvesting traditional materials. Besides the session with sisters Greta and Winnie Charlie, the interviews are conducted one person at a time. “We go as long as the person is comfortable going,” said Jaiden. “The longest interview we’ve had has been with Ron Hamilton. That took place over the course of five days total. Each one of those being five-hour days. We have about 25 hours of footage. His interview is actually my favourite. He’s incredible.” “The first day we sat down with him we got through about three questions because his answers are about two hours long,” continued Jaiden, adding that Hamilton had a circular way of answering questions. Ahousaht-Otoosaht War
Inside this issue... MOU with province brings 30 units for homeless.........Page 2 Fish Farm licences expire in June................. .................Page 8 Nuu-chah-nulth groups perform at Hoobiyee....Pages 10 & 11 Traditional food gathering event..................................Page 15 Lessons for International Women’s Day.......................Page 19
To date, the project has captured historical information going back about five generations. In the 1800s, Ahousaht went to war with Otoosaht, a group that lived on the outer beaches of Flores Island. “I would say it’s the largest event that’s happened in our recent history outside of colonization,” said Jaiden. Maquinna shared that the war between Ahousaht and Otoosaht lasted over 13 years. “This little baby was born when the war started and when the war ended the little baby girl was a young lady, so they were figuring about 13 years that the war took place,” said Maquinna. The Otoosaht were stopping the Ahousaht from accessing fish in their territory, so the chief declared war. “The war went on and on and many, many people were killed,” said Maquinna. Ultimately, Ahousaht conquered Otoosaht, and the neighbouring tribes of Manosaht and Keltsmaht amalgamated with Ahousaht.
“The people of Otoosaht fled all the way down to Neah Bay, Washington,” said Maquinna. “During the canoe journeys we had people who were original Otoosahts and they were wanting to know how we felt about them. I sent a message back, I said, ‘The war has been over for a long time. You guys should come home, and I invited them back to where their original lands were’.” Present day issues During the interviews, Maquinna asks the elders to share their thoughts on present day issues like the crisis the community is facing when it comes to substance abuse. “The colonization of our people is really evident. We have a lot of work to do with getting back to who we are as First Nations people,” said Maquinna, adding that many of the elders talked about the change in traditional diet.
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Continues on page 3.