NEWS
News and Announcements
Keep up to date with important news, announcements, and press releases here:
October 20, 2023: Tinwis as Tinwis: Reclaiming Indigenous Placenames
May 31, 2023: Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Report 2023 Release
The new 2023 Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Report is now available! In 2022 & 2023, we celebrated new partnerships and opportunities to share our vision with the world: Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks were featured in National Geographic Magazine’s July 2022 cover story about the resurgence of Indigenous stewardship traditions across North America. Tourism Tofino made new commitments to centre Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks in their destination marketing, while 4VI (Tourism Vancouver Island) and Indigenous Tourism BC committed to fostering Tribal-Parks-Allies-style programs based on our success across the province. BC published and began implementing its 2022-2027 DRIPA Action Plan, with material commitments to honouring Indigenous rights such as the right to benefit from economic activities in Indigenous homelands. With funding from Pacific Economic Development Canada, we launched the first naaʔuu interpretive dinner event series, commissioned and erected Tla-o-qui-aht art and signage in strategic locations throughout the Tribal Parks, and strengthened our presence at ʔaʔukmin Tribal Park. Most significantly, we continue to recruit new Tribal Parks Allies every other week, with 120 participating Allies at the time of writing this report.
JANUARY 5, 2023: Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Welcomes Visitors to "Come Feast" at naaʔuu Cultural Event Series
Tla-o-qui-aht ḥaḥuułi /Tofino – Visitors will soon be able to part take in a Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s cultural experience. Join us for an evening of food, art, and cultural presentations through a new limited event series entitled “naaʔuu.”
Launching March 2023, naaʔuu is a ticketed cultural experience presented by Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, which will support Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks’ work in restoring and furthering the nation’s lands, language and culture.
Named after a Nuu-chah-nulth word that translates to “come together” and “feast,” naaʔuu includes a delicious dinner that celebrates traditional coastal cuisine prepared by Chef Ian Riddick, with support from his Heartwood Kitchen team and Tla-o-qui-aht food suppliers.
“Our ambition is to share our culture,” says Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s Natural Resources Manager Saya Masso. “By experiencing our culture, it will help visitors understand Tla-o-qui-aht’s perspective. To see our culture, to see our art and to understand our stories is how they can participate in our future.”
Held at the Tla-o-qui-aht-owned Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort in Tofino, ticket-holders are invited to gather inside the resort’s conference centre, which has been transformed to look and feel like a traditional bighouse.
“We are excited to welcome you into our house, to share a little bit of who we are, in our own words” says naaʔuu Co-Producer Hjalmer Wenstob. “Come share a meal and bear witness to our powerful singers, dancers and transformative masks and artwork. This is a nation rich in beautiful art and culture in one of the most stunning places in the world.”
The event will also include an art show where local artists and makers will have their works for sale.
Through naaʔuu, locals and travelers can gain a greater understanding of Tla-o-qui-aht’s worldview, which follows the principles of iisaak (respect) and hi-shuk-nish-tsa-waak (we are all one).
Attached is a series of images and video approved for media usage.
Credit images: naaʔuu Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks
Video credit: naaʔuu Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7i5pozka3sg6vsa1ytinr/h?dl=0&rlkey=4dhx6usfwiagoy7q78it46cuk
Limited tickets are available through Eventbrite, with proceeds going to the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks to support the nation’s ongoing stewardship efforts.
naaʔuu, a Tla-o-qui-aht cultural experience, has been supported by Pacific Economic Development Canada.
Media Contacts:
Saya Masso; Natural Resources Manager, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation
lands@tla-o-qui-aht.org
250.725.3350
Hjalmer Wenstob, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation artist and naaʔuu Co-Producer
art@cedarhousegallery.com
250.266.0984
SEPTEMBER 23, 2021: Thank you Tourism Tofino for your Sponsorship this summer!
The Big Tree Trail at Wanachus-Hilthuuis Tribal Park is the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s flagship tourism destination. This year, we initiated a major extension/restoration initiative with the help of several partners. Among our partners is Tourism Tofino, who sponsored the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Guardians Program and our vision to develop interpretive guide capacity among our young Guardians.
Tourism Tofino contributed $15,000.00 in their sponsorship. These funds contributed to Guardians’ salaries while they refurbished the existing 1km stretch of trail and constructed a viewing platform at the “Tree of Life” giant Cedar, one of the most popular giants on the trail. Heavy foot traffic around the base of the Tree of Life has been a concern for Tla-o-qui-aht for some time, as the fragile roots of the tree and other life at its base are trampled and destroyed. We hope that this platform will help the Tree of Life survive for many more generations, recovering a healthy ecosystem at its base to help strengthen roots and retain moisture in the dry season.
Building boardwalks and learning professional conduct on the Big Tree Trail is an important component of Tribal Parks Guardian Training. As they work, young Guardians learn about the history, ecology, and relationship Tla-o-qui-aht uphold with this forest. As we continue to develop this destination over the next two years, our Guardians will gain the interpretive skills they will need to host interpretive tours of the trail after the extension and restoration is complete. Thank you Tourism Tofino for your support in this important effort!
JUNE 15 2021 COVID-19 UPDATE: TLA-O-QUI-AHT TRIBAL PARKS REOPEN TO BC RESIDENTS
It is with great relief and gratitude to all those who have helped mitigate COVID-19 that the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation is able to announce the long-awaited reopening of the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. As of June 15, 2021, we are welcoming guests from throughout BC back into our Tribal Parks, which encompass the Haḥuułi of the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ Ha’wiih. We ask that travelers from outside of BC please stay home for now. The Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks include the Ha’uukmin (Kennedy Lake) Watershed, the Esowista Peninsula, the Tranquil River Watershed, and the Tla-o-qui-aht side of Wanachus/Hilthuuis (Meares Island). Access to the communities of Esowista, Ty Histanis, and Opitsaht is still restricted.
If you are a guest planning a visit to the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks, please travel responsibly: stay advised and be respectful of different First Nations’ closures. Continue to observe social distancing and wear a mask. Support our Tribal Parks Allies when you visit.
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