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The Community of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Region will live sustainably in a healthy ecosystem, with a diversified economy and strong, vibrant and united cultures while embracing the Nuu-chah–nulth First Nations "living" philosophies of Iisaak (Living respectfully), Qwa' aak qin teechmis (Life in the balance), and Hishuk ish ts'awalk (Everything is one and interconnected). This vision was articulated to the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust during public consultations with the residents of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Region Community.
The communities of Ahousaht (or Marktosis), Hesquiaht, Hot Springs Cove, Opitsaht and Esowista and the District of Tofino lie within the boundaries of the Reserve, while the communities of Toquaht, Ucluelet and the District of Ucluelet are located within the Reserve region.
View from First Street dock, Tofino
Tofino is located on a narrow finger of land called the Esowista Peninsula. Bordered on the South by its boundary with Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and on its other three sides by the Pacific Ocean, Tofino is as far west as you can drive by car or bus and is still the only paved road to the open Pacific Ocean in Canada.
Today the community of Tofino is experiencing a boom in tourism, thanks in a large part to the publicity that was created during the so called "war in the woods", that resulted in the mass arrest of over 800 environmental protesters in the early 1990's. It has become an international destination, as tourism is increasingly a year-round activity. Tofino's resouce-based economy continues to adapt to market changes. Its population has increased from 1170 in 1996 to 1655 in 2006. It was one of the fastest growing communities in British Columbia during the 1990's and works to embrace this growth consciously.
Lighthouse at Amphitrite Point, Ucluelet
Settlement in the Ucluelet Area started in the late 1800's. By the turn of the 20th century the a fishing industry prospered with the development of fish buying stations, reduction plants, and processing facilities. Japanese fishermen from Steveston settled in Ucluelet around 1920. Historically, and still today, commercial fishing in Ucluelet has its high and low cycles.
Forestry figures prominently in much of Ucluelet's history and lifestyle, but logging really started to dominate in the 1950s. For close to 40 years forestry provided families in Ucluelet with a reliable and relatively prosperous income. Like fishing, however, forestry has its ups and downs; dependent on market conditions and dependent on environmental concerns. Today, tree farm license tenure holders in the Ucluelet area are adapting operations to meet the expectations of the 21st century.
Ucluelet was incorporated as a village February 26, 1952 and officially became a district in 1997. The last census indicated the population in 2006 at 1487.
The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, incorporated on April 25th, 1967, is located along the Pacific Rim of Vancouver Island. The Electoral Area "C" (Long Beach) is one of six unincorporated rural electoral areas, within the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Area "C" (Long Beach) encompasses and represents all of the geographic area of the Clayoquot Sound, which does not fall within the incorporated Districts of Tofino and Ucluelet. In the six unincorporated electoral areas the Regional District's Board of Directors serves as the local government. Other services provided vary widely and many are shared by municipal and non-municipal partners within the region.
Nuu-chah-nulth paddlers
The Nuu-chah-nulth are the first peoples of Clayoquot Sound. The five (5) Nuu-chah-nulth tribes in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere region are the Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht and Ucluelet First Nations. The indigenous culture of the Nuu-chah-nulth — including rich political, social, technological and artistic element — is linked inextricably to the marine and terrestrial resources of the region, and is centered on the unique relationships between the Nuu-chah-nulth people and the natural environment. The Nuu-chah-nulth have always lived at the edge of the sea, and have used abundant salmon, sea mammal and other marine resources of the area in a sustainable fashion. The extensive use of Western Red Cedar by the Nuu-chah-nulth is widely known, but countless other species of terrestrial plants and animals have been used by the Nuu-chah-nulth for food, medical, spiritual and technological purposes.
Together, these five First Nations form the Central Region component of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. Within the Biosphere Reserve boundaries there are approximately forty small "Indian Reserves" (held in trust by the Government of Canada under the federal Indian Act). These total 1,055 hectares in size, and include the community sites of Ahousaht (or Marktosis), Hesquiaht, Hot Springs Cove, Opitsaht and Esowista.
Three Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations groups — the Ahousaht, Hesquiaht and Tla-o-qui-aht — hold traditional territory mostly or fully within the Reserve boundaries. An additional two First Nations groups — the Toquaht and Ucluelet — occupy traditional territory immediately south in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve region (apart from a small portion of Ucluelet territory within Reserve boundaries).
Through treaty negotiations currently underway, the Nuu-chah-nulth seek control over their traditional territories and joint management with non-native authorities of resources in the region.
Located on 592 hectares
25 reserves
Most of the band members living on reserve reside on Marktosis I.R. #15, on Flores Island. The island is off the west coast of central Vancouver Island and is only accessible by float plane or boat. Ahousaht is from a Nuu-chah-nulth word probably meaning "facing opposite from the ocean" or "people living with their backs to the land and mountains."
The original home of the Ahousaht Band was on the exposed western shore of Vargas Island. In 1951 the Ahousaht and Kelsemaht bands merged to form the present band. The band is part of the Nuu-chah-nulth linguistic group.
Hot Springs Village
Located on 320 hectares
5 reserves
The majority of band members live on Refuge Cove I.R. #6, which is informally known as Hot Springs Cove. Located on Hesquiaht Harbour on the west coast of central Vancouver Island, this reserve is accessible by float plane or boat. The name comes from the Nootka word meaning "people of the sound made by eating herring eggs off eel grass."
The main community was relocated back from the beach after a tsunami destroyed the original village in 1964. The band is part of the Nootka linguistic group.
Opitsaht
Located on 220 hectares
10 reserves
The main reserve is Esowista (located within Pacific Rim National Park Reserve) and another community is Opitsaht on Meares Island. Formerly called Clayoquot, the band's name means "people of other tribes." The Tla-o-qui-aht are part of the Nuu-chah-nulth linguistic group.
Located on 196 hectares
7 reserves
The main reserve is located on the north side of Barkley Sound on the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island. The name is derived from a Nootka word meaning "people of the narrow place in front," or "people of the narrow channel." At one time in the history of Vancouver Island, Barkley Sound was home to the highest population of Aboriginal peoples on the island. The band is part of the Nuu-chah-nulth linguistic group.
Located on 199 hectares
9 reserves
Located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, about 60 km east of Port Alberni. At one time in the history of Vancouver Island Barkley Sound was home to the highest population of Aboriginal peoples. The name comes from the Nootka word "Yo-Clutl-Ahts", meaning "the people of the sheltered bay," referring to the well-protected landing place for canoes. The band is part of the Nuu-chah-nulth linguistic group.
Clayoquot Biosphere Trust
PO Box 67
Tofino, British Columbia
Canada V0R 2Z0
Phone 250-725-2219 (Tofino) 250-726-2086 (Ucluelet)
Fax 250-725-2384 (Tofino) 250-726-2087 (Ucluelet)
www.clayoquotbiosphere.org