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II a :1 hiith- Canada's Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu -chah- nulth -aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 28 - No. 6 - March 29, 2001 haasi1'sa "Interestingb News" , Sales Agreement No. 467510 Ancient artifacts found 't4 i al'1 1 in Alberni Valley r By David Wiwchar deficit, the School District decided that i' Southern Region Reporter they did not need the land for a school, o , but could generate much -needed The combination of knowledge and revenues by logging the 2.5 acre (1 A luck led 23 -year old Steven Tatoosh to hectare) site, selling the timber, pulling one of the biggest archaeological finds the stumps out of the ground, and t in the Alberni Valley in the last 30 years. leasing the newly exposed land to , Taking his dog for a walk through a farming neighbor Asker Naesgaard. recently cleared area off Josephine Road When the School District originally t in Port Alberni last September, Tatoosh announced their plans to log the area, 7. found a 3500 year -old spear point amid the Hupacasath Nation sent a letter piles of dug -up tree roots behind Asker asking for an impact assessment to be Naesgaard's farm. done. Suspiciously, the letter was misplaced by School District staff, and Taking his dog for a walk through the logging went ahead unhindered, generating $60,000 for the district's a recently cleared area off L Josephine Road in Port Alberni capital account. t "Had the impact assessment been done, last September, Tatoosh found a the site would certainly have been 3500 year -old spear point amid known about," said Hupacasath Chief piles of dug -up tree roots behind Councilor Judith Sayers. "But now, we Asker Naesgaard's farm. have this amazing archaeological site that has been dug up and disturbed to Tatoosh, who had recently completed a the point where it is going to be difficult series of archaeology courses taught at to put an accurate date on many of the , Ditidaht to four Nuu -chah -nulth people things the team found." T X . through Forest Renewal B.C. funding, The area, which is a small plateau atop alerted Hupacasath and Tseshaht a 20 -foot rise behind Naesgaard's farm, holds a old spear point collected at the immediately of his find. Months later, was probably a paleo- shoreline accord- Steven Tatoosh 3500 -year once archaeologist John Maxwell and a ing to Maxwell, meaning it is at the edge Josephine Road archaeological site. crew of 18 volunteers surveyed the site of the ancient path of the Somass River, would the extent of the find become now almost 600 metres away from its Nuu- chah -nulth discuss A.I.P. known, and then embroiled in local former location. Avenue, across from police station), at controversy. After archaeologists had a chance to By David Wiwchar which time each Nation will announce do an initial surface collection and small Southern Region Reporter the results of their votes. When the School District test -digs on the plateau, they were able to collect four boxes of stone tools and Within every Nuu -chah- nulth -aht originally announced their plans to After days of discussions, and log the area, the Hupacasath other artifacts that will analyzed, community and urban centres where assessed and studied by Maxwell, groups of Nuu -chah -nulth people live, leaving no questions unanswered, Nation sent a letter asking for an Tatoosh, and Barry Watts from discussions on a proposed Agreement - each Nation will decide whether to impact assessment to be done. Tseshaht. They will then write a report in- Principle (AIP) have been drawing move ahead with the treaty Suspiciously, the letter was on the findings to the provincial archae- crowds. process or not. misplaced by School District staff, ology branch, and the artifacts will be After days of discussions, and leaving and the logging went ahead stored at the Alberni Valley Museum. no questions unanswered, each Nation If any Nations vote against the accep- unhindered. "It's a very old and remarkable site," will decide whether to move ahead with tance of the A.I.P., it will have to be said Maxwell. "We collected almost 400 the treaty process or not. decided at the March 30' meeting what The land, situated on the opposite side artifacts from stone flakes to stone Each person will have to decide such decisions mean to the entire of Josephine Road from Hupacasath's tools, which is quite a high number of whether the A.I.P. is a good, general N.T.C. treaty table. Ahahswinis reserve was crown land, technological artifacts to be found in basis from which to develop more Since results won't be announced until but was given to School District #70 in one spot." specific agreements which will form the the day after the March 29th issue of ' the 1940's for use as a future school Despite the obvious benefits, the final agreement. Ha- Shilth -Sa, you can read the full site if needed. The land sat dormant for archaeological assessment caused quite Voting will happen up until the March results, their implications, and future many years, but with a declining a bit of local controversy as the School 30" treaty planning meeting in Port plans in the next issue of Ha- Shilth -Sa, Alberni at the Italian Hall (4065 6th enrollment rate in the area, and a budget continued on page 2 which comes out on April 12'. POSTAGE PAID IN PORT ALBERNI, B.C. Ha- hulthi Conference a great success Page 3 If undeliverable, please return to: Ha- Shilth -Sa, Il i Huu -ay -aht's Sugsaw Creek Hatchery Page 4 r-- Ditidaht 'On The Grow' Page 5 NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CANADA NEWSPAPERS DIV. 17 Justin Frank Memorial Page 6 395 WELLINGTON ST. Tseshaht youth explore New Zealand Page 7 OTTAWA, ON K1A ON4 New group helps new Moms Page 17 _ NEDC Business News Page 20 ISSN 0715 -4143 i i 1 Ha-Shilth -Ste - March 29, - Page Page 2 - Ha- Shilth -Ste - March 29. 2001 2001 3 a -Shi Nh -Sa newspaper is pub\ LETTERS & KLECOS First Nations Demonstrate Traditional Government fished by the Nrm ehoh-north tribal Council for distribution to the roam HaShillhSo will include letters received from le readers. All letters MUST be bers of the fourteen Nuu- chah -nolth signed by the writer and have the writer's name, address &phone number on it. Names Ha- hulthi Conference First Nations as well as other inter- can be withheld by request. Aimed... submissions will not be accepted. By Denise Ambrose Central Region Board to gather people ested groups and individuals. We reserve the right to edit submitted material for clarity, brevity, grammar and Central Region Reporter of the Clayoquot Sound area for u Information & original work con - good taste. We will definitely publish letters dealing with or penanal _ tribal Awake practice con of the seating of the chiefs. teed in this newspaper is copyright or loam that are critical of Ns.- chah -nultk indis koala or groups. Ahousaht - Residents of Tofino, The morning started off with patio and may not be reproduced without All opinions expressed in letters to the editor are purely those of the writer and beluelet and Pon Alberni were invited to pant. waiting on the beach for the written permission from' will not urtly coincide with the views or policies of the Nuuwheh -note Tribal Ahousaht to witness First Nations snivel of the Chiefs by dugout canoe. w Council Councilor... member First Notions, Nuu- chah-uulth Tribal government in action. Welcome ceremonies, usually per- P.O, Box 1383, Nadine Spence and Crystal Sutherland formed right on the beach, were carried out in the Port Alberni, B.C. of the Long Beach Model Forest spent gymnasium because of the cold weather. V9Y 7M2. Alberni Archaeology the last several months preparing for this day under the Ha- Back at the ism. guests were seated :s. Telephone: (250) 724 -5757 hulthi Program. continued from page I Spence and Sutherland, both of cording o traditional long house rules, men Fax: (250)723 -0463 Ahousaht were hired to document elders sat to the right of the District looked upon the dig as an not of and from the B.C. describing the meaning of Ha- hulthi, our entrance women to the refi. trespass. Maxwell had advised the SUBSCRIPTIONS Archaeology Branch, traditional form of governmentgov rament under The Chief were called uneasy -one, Mon. on what was going to $25.00 per year in Canada & happen and held anin- the hereditary Chiefs. escorted to their seats by Ahousaht well in advance, and the archaeologists ember, Tim Sutherland (I -r) Chief Umeek (Dr. 535.00(year US,A. and foreign camera needing with Pan of the program involved hosting a There were Richard Ant.) of Ahousaht, Tyee Há wilth were clearly within their mandated legal any vacant countries. Payable to the Sayers they an- conference in partnership with the eats, as several Chiefs Matlahaw (Domenic Andrews) of Hesquiaht, and Archie Thompson, rights o conduct the assessment. But could not hah -ninth Tribal Council. mure. they would attend the event The Chiefs speaker for Tyee Hi wilth Deet- Kee SIp (Bert was not for II Mack) of Togtaht that good enough some pay the 57200 they have come that were there Included, Chief Bill and so we "Do the right to to me msessment cost. life form have ceremonies." Southern George Editor -Manager, as a landowner and tell me Treaty Planning: Leaders Ir.