History

Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (people of the safe harbour) have lived along Vancouver Island’s west coast for thousands of years. Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ is made up of the families from 9 different villages: hitaču, ƛakmaqis, ʔuuc, k̓ʷinaqułtḥ, namint, yuułuʔił, w̓aayi, huʔuł, and kʷisitis; and is one of the nuučaanuł (Nuu-chah-nulth) nations. Each village had at least one long house for summer and winter usage.  Today the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ main village is at Hitacu. Families of Yuułʔułʔatḥ followed a seasonal round in order to harvest resources in their territories; spring was herring spawn season, and summer was drying fish season. The Nahmint River was Yuuʔiłʔatḥ’s major salmon resource.

The Yuuʔułʔiłatḥ were fishers and whalers. Salmon was the most sustainable resource and was often harvested in large numbers in the fall and stored for the winter months. Herring and salmon roe, cod, halibut, sardines, and herring were also major fish resources. Seafood was a main staple for the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ such as seals, sea lions, whales, sea urchin, crab, clams, mussels and oysters. Other food that was commonly used was deer, bear, elk, wild plants and roots. Many foods were preserved using techniques such as drying, and smoking.