Ucluelet First Nation

The Ucluelet First Nation is a First Nations government in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island on the north side of Barkley Sound. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. The Ucluelet First Nation is part of the Nuu-chah-nulth cultural and linguistic family.

Introduction

The Yuu-tluth-aht First Nation’s main village is located at Ittatsoo, across the bay from the town of Ucluelet. The Nation’s territory is located at the northern gateway to Barkley Sound with open access to the Pacific Ocean. Being a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Maa-nulth Treaty Nations, the Yuu-tluth-aht is currently organizing around a post-treaty environment, and actively pursuing social and economic development. The following introduction to the community is posted on the Nation’s website (www.ufn.ca), one of the most comprehensive and well-maintained community websites in the region.

Today, the community lives reasonably within their means. With a downturn of the major forestry industry, shortage of work in the fishing industry and closure of on-shore local processing plants, many members of the community are now employed in the rapidly growing tourism industry, while others are upgrading their education or gaining employment with smaller forestry companies.

Housing in the UFN community has been revived with the Grand Opening of 6 units in 2006, 6 units in 2007 and many more to come for the 2008 New Housing Year. The goal of the UFN is to continue with the planning and development of the new subdivision or Physical Development Plan (PDP), which will provide more housing units and community centres for the membership. Phase I of UFN’s PDP is well underway is expected to be complete in 2008.

The children/youths (Kindergarten through Grade 12) commute to school by bus to the town of Ucluelet where they attend either Ucluelet Elementary School or Ucluelet Secondary School. On reserve educational programs are offered through the Ittatsoo Learning Centre, where students have the opportunity to upgrade through long distance education; or the Ittatsoo Preschool Daycare where a Head Start Program is delivered. During the summer, children/youth join a summer day camp where they participate in many different activities that offer them experience and encourages exercise. The summer season is a time for community members to harvest, prepare and stock food for the winter season. During this time many items such as halibut, salmon, herring and berries are prepared traditionally by smoking or drying; or by jarring. Throughout the year other traditional foods are stocked such as deer, ducks, herring eggs, crab, sea urchin, clams, oysters and mussels. The Ucluelet First Nation is proud to have the talent that thrives in and outside our community. There are many men and woman, who express themselves traditionally and artistically through carving, beading and weaving. Marking our time in history, the first ever totem pole was raised in March of 2005. Artist, James Cootes designed the totem with a thunderbird, killer whale, bear and a salmon. The pole is located at Quiisitis, IR 9 (Wickanninnish Beach) and sits as a welcoming figure noting a historical place where the UFN ancestors gathered during the fishing season.

Population

In total there are slightly more than 600 members of the Ucluelet First Nation. The majority of which live "off-reserve."

The on-reserve population of the Ucluelet First Nation is about 200 people on the Ucluelet Indian Reserve No. 1, called Ittatsoo.cite web |url=http://ufn.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=37 |title=Ucluelet First Nation - Profile |publisher=ufn.ca |accessdate=2008-07-05 ] There are approximately 400 members living "off-reserve" which could mean they live on other reserves, or in towns or cities that are not within Ittatsoo.

Location

The main village of Ittatsoo is located 28 kilometres from the township of Ucluelet, and is located approximately fifteen kilometres from the Pacific Rim National Park.

Hereditary System

The hereditary system of the Yuu-tluth-aht First Nation originates from a congregation of 17 Ucluelet tribes, which each had a Ha’wiilth (Chief) and associated Ha’houlthee. Most Ha’wiilth retained a Tsaksi (speaker on behalf of the chief) who represented the Ha’wiilth in tribal affairs. The Ha’wiilth had a number of Tupatsi, or advisors, who played an important role in influencing the direction of tribal affairs. When Europeans arrived in the 18th century, these tribes were still vibrant as autonomous entities, operating in a manner similar to a federation. However, with the development of, dare we to say, atrocious Canadian assimilation policies for aboriginal groups, the Ucluelet tribes eventually merged to form the current Yuu-tluth-aht First Nation.

So while many of the 17 tribes are defunct today as governance structures, families are aware of which house and tribe they belong to historically. The current Tyee (head Ha’wiilth) for the Yuu-tluth-aht First Nation is Lawrence Jack.

Most importantly, as proposed in the Maa-nulth Treaty, the Yuu-tluth-aht Constitution sets up an integrated hereditary/elected governance system which permanently reserves a seat for one Ha’wiih on Council. Yuu-tluth-aht and the Province of British Columbia have ratified their treaty and await federal approval to move to implementation.

For people interested in a more-in-depth understanding of traditional Yuu-tluth-aht governance system, Michelle Corfield, Vice President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, published an excellent M.A. thesis on the topic in 2002.

Elected System

The current Chief and Council is elected every two years, with the most recent election in June 2008. Future electoral timing may change as result of Treaty settlement. The current Chief and Council, 2008-2010 are:

- Vi Mundy, Chief Councillor

- Lorraine Mundy

- Eugene Touchie

- Levi Touchie

- Daniel Touchie

- Marjorie Touchie

- Allan McCarthy

Appointments to Other Boards

Appointments to the Ucluth Development Corporation are voted in directly by the membership. Yuu-tluth-aht appointments to regional boards is done through Council and includes:

- Clayoquot Biosphere Trust: Larry Baird (Co-chair)

- Central Region Board: Robert Mundy (Co-chair)

- Central Region Management Board: Larry Baird

- Iisaak Forest Resources: Larry Baird

- Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council: Dr. Michelle Corfield, Vice-President (elected).

Administration

The Yuu-tluth-aht First Nation has developed functional administrative structures and policies that set a base for good governance going forward. According to Council members who attended the workshop in October 2007, there is a clear structure as to who is in charge (fisheries, forestry, land-use planning) and importantly a number of documents that explain the Nation’s protocols and frameworks for economic engagement (for example in forestry). These templates are useful, administrative staff is engaged and competent, and the Nation is now gearing up for implementation of the new constitution.

Business and Economic Development

In the past, one of the challenges for economic development was that everything had to go through Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), which was a deeply frustrating process. Joint ventures were almost impossible to develop as they quickly got mired in red tape and federal policy and legal control. The post-INAC environment is extremely exciting, but it is hard to see how things will develop going forward. Now that the Nation will be in control of its own affairs, the biggest challenge will be to provide skills & employment development in addition to direct investment.Employment with the Ucluelet First Nation is minimal; however, as economic development grows more employment opportunities will become available. To date, the UFN are in partnership with companies such as Hittatsoo Limited Forest Company, UFN Holdings Company Ltd., Eagle Rock aggregates project, Upnit Power Corporation project and the Ucluth Development Corporation (which owns the Thornton Motel in Ucluelet). The UFN also holds a 20-percent ownership interest in the Iisaak Forest Resources Ltd. and Mamook/Coulson Forestry Ltd.

Community Opportunities

During the workshop with Yuu-tluth-aht Council in October 2007, the following governance and community opportunities were identified by Council members: On the political side, the leadership wonders what the post-treaty environment will mean for key institutions, such as the Central Region Board, Central Region Chiefs, NTC, etc. There are some unknowns in terms of how self-governance might change relationships over the long-run. Yuu-tluth-aht for instance is developing projects with other Barkley Sound nations. There is a sense that it will be important to determine how institutions that were created as bridges to treaty transform themselves in a post-treaty environment.On the social side, one of the key questions is how to attract people back to the community. The housing situation has dramatically improved with some innovative projects. The next step may be to create jobs so that people can feel drawn back “home.” Finally, the current treaty opens many opportunities for economic development. Namely, the Nation will increase its legal jurisdictional area from 199 hectares to 5,346 with an extra 216 hectares pre-approved land for purchase.

Sources

*cite web|url=http://www.ecotrust.ca/clayoquot/governance/|publisher=Ecotrust Canada|title=Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region Governance Structures|date=September 2008|author=Mundy, Vi|coauthors=Iris Frank

External links

* [http://www.ufn.ca Ucluelet First Nation Website]
* [http://www.nuuchahnulth.org Nuuchahnulth Tribal Council Website]