Kyuquot/Cheklesahht First Nation

The Kyuquot - Cheklesahht ( notation: Kyuquot / Cheklesahht, and Ka: ' yu: ' k't'h '/ Che: k: tles7et'h ' First Nations, often Kyuquot / Checleset ), are North American Indians and live on of Vancouver Island, which lies off the west coast of Canada. They speak Wakashan and belong to the Nuu- chah- nulth, the northernmost group they represent. Compared to the Canadian government, they are represented mainly by the Nuu- chah- nulth Tribal Council.

The two eponymous tribes were united in 1963 to a tribe, and counted in April 2010, exactly 509 registered members.

Reserves

The Kyuquot - Cheklesahht live in 26 reserves, especially in Rupert District, but also in Nootka District, with a total of 370 hectares. This corresponds to the numbering of the reserves ( 1-17 or 1-9 ) nor the two formerly separate tribes. The majority of the population lives on the north shore of Kyuquot Sound, across from Walter Iceland, the reserve Houpsitas 6 ( 11.7 ha). Overall lived in April 2010 in the reserves, 154 people, 14 more in other reserves, 341 lived outside the reserves. It was recognized as Kyuquot - Cheklesahht 509 people. Aktis and Kamills Iceland ( 47.8 and 29.5 ha), but above all McLean Iceland (87 ha ) represent the largest areas of Kyuquot, an area at the Chekleset Bay, the largest field of Cheklesahht ..

History

End of the 18th century included Cheklesahht probably 600-1200 tribal members who lived in three or four villages. The largest town was Acous which still existed in 1892 from 18 long houses in two rows. But as early as 1855 one still counted only 50 to 60 men, in 1860 there were only 32, even five years later, only 30 were counted in 1896 a total of 119 members of the tribe, in 1916 only 57 When the Quineex Indian reserve was visited in 1926, was described it as Heilbuttfängerort with three houses.

According to oral tradition, the Cheklesahht defeated the Classet in a bloody confrontation at Cape Cook. The adjacent to Brooks Peninsula Klas cinema, who talked Kwakwala, however, died out by 1940. According to them the cinema class Inlet was named.

1886 capsized ship off the coast and the crew was found and rescued after 21 days from the Cheklesahht. Other ships sank here, so that a shelter was built.

The censuses of 1881 and 1891 showed that the number of Chekleset had dropped from 148 to 131. The number of Kyuquot was even dropped from 662 to 469. They lived at Village Iceland, which is registered as abandoned Mamalaleqala tape Indian Reserve (see Mamalilikulla ). As the number of Chekleset back went so far as they united in 1963 with the Kyuquot.

The oldest of the 662 Kyuquot of the census of 1881 were 80 and 74 years old ( imidazole bullshit and Keilhnuk ). 213 of them were referred to as " Fisherman ". A total of 36 families were recorded. The number of Christian names clearly outweighs only at the under 19 -year-old. Mission success thus placed themselves massively from about 1863, one year after a devastating smallpox epidemic. Two of the families had more than 40 heads ( 42, 45 ), four were among about 30, about 20 twelve, seven out of 10, eleven families to come with fewer than 10 members.

Current situation

Contract negotiations

2003 Kyuquot Sound Coastal was adopted plan that includes the approximately 60 km long stretch of coastline between Nootka Sound and Brooks Peninsula, a total of 545 km of coastline and 550 km ² coastal waters. It contains numerous safeguards for the natural resources of the region, but also penetrates to the involvement of local First Nations in all decision-making processes, particularly on issues important cultural sites. In addition to be improved through joint ventures, marketing assistance and training initiatives their economic situation. These need the parks and recreation areas numerous helpers ( Guardians ).

2007 voted the Ka: ' yu: ' k't'h '/ Che: k: tles7et'h ' for the adoption of an agreement with the governments of British Columbia and Canada. Together with the Uchucklesaht, the Toquaht, the Ucluelet and the Huu -ay -aht they form the Maa- nulth group that negotiated a separate contract. They all receive significantly more extensive areas ( a total of around 23.000nbsp; ha) than the existing reserves, but at the same time give up the original, much larger tribal areas. At the same time the land is privatized, so it is not protected against sale or expropriation. Therefore, the aim of the BC Treaty Process is increasingly controversial, as it could lead to extensive loss of the tribal areas in the long term and in the current impoverishment of -chah- nulth Nuuk.

In June 2009, the federal government ratified the treaty.

Tourism

Kayak tours take in the region to be strong and make for some of the residents in Kyuquot company 's livelihood. The neighborhood is very conducive to several provincial parks. Especially Brooks Peninsula in the north and the Rugged Point Provincial Park to the south offer more employment opportunities. To this end, the Big Bunsby Marine Provincial Park is on the largest island of Bunsby Island group to the Checleset Bay Ecological Reserve relieve. Furthermore, the Dixie Cove Marine Park ( 156 ha) is located in the tribal area, more specifically on Hohoae Iceland in Kyuquot Sound. Finally, is located in the traditional territory of the double strain nor the Tahsish Provincial Park and the Artlish Caves Provincial Park. In all areas, there are cultural sites of Kyuquot and Cheklesahht which may only be visited with the permission of the tribe.

Next to benefit from the parks a motel, various water taxi company, a few restaurants and B & Bs, shops and artists ( woodcarvers ) in Kyuquot. There are also companies, such as Tlaa - nii - haanlth (Rainbow) Society, which go from hut to hut between Fair Harbour and Brooks Peninsula.

Fishing

During the Sixties, the forests were, for example, 17 km of Kauwinch River, so greatly cut down, that some fish populations, such as the salmon of the sort Pink Salmon ( Pink Salmon ) broke down.

The reintroduction of the otter meant for some fishermen initially a decline in catches for all species that are also the otter prey. However, the animals since 2003 migrate already off again, so that an upper limit of the population has been exceeded. In order to reduce the negative effects, beach guards were ordered. It was mainly about the manila and littleneck clams.

In addition to individual fishermen Kyuquot Checleset Shellfish Corporation is the largest employer in this area depend, of whose supplies also the motel, some bed-and- breakfasts and a restaurant in Kyuquot. On 1 June 2004, however, a catch stop had to be imposed, but this was not due to overfishing, but on bacterial load of fish. In Clayoquot Sound and Barkley Sound Clamfish farms employ 156 people, more aquaculture, although highly controversial, in planning. When shellfish fishing work more than 330 people, so probably about 600 people live in this sparsely populated region directly from fishing. As this industry is highly dependent on the water quality, which in turn is hardly affected by the few people ( on the west coast of Vancouver Iceland live barely 40,000 people ), it is mainly leachates that jeopardize the fishery.

Thus, the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program was of great importance. Deforestation are obviously one of the main causes for the increase in coliform load. In the First Nations added that the action taken by the men sea fishing is declining, while shellfish have gained an increasingly higher proportion of the diet. This has enhanced women's work, but now threatens to suffer from the closures of fisheries. Furthermore, this work is highly vulnerable to the potential since 2001 and funded by government allocation of locked in other fishing areas. However, the First Nations do not feel able to raise necessary funds for the purchase of beach sections. In autumn 2002, a mobile laboratory examined the catch - it is now permanently in Port Hardy. Since most private and commercial mussel animal collectors belonging to the two tribes that private collectors have to negotiate with them when it comes to access to non- Coli contamination due to restricted beaches. For the government, this is an " internal matter ".

Attempts to restore salmon stocks can be found for example at Jansen Lake, on the Kyuquot Sound is located near the Easy Inlet ( Jansen Lake Fish Habitat Restoration Project (1999-2002 ) ). It was carried out primarily to labor under the Kyuquot. The same applies to the Chamiss Creek Watershed Restoration Project (2003/ 04), which tries to recover a stream that also opens into the Sound. This area is considered particularly sensitive, because of the double strain 1995/96, the timber company International Forest Products compelled to selective logging, so to make no clearcut. Around two-thirds of the trees thus stopped.

Self-administration

Therese Smith is the current elected chief. Assisted by two counselors and two consultants ( Councillors ) to the side.