WALKING IN
THEIR FOOTSTEPS K E A L Y DON ALDSON
WHERE THE
BIG CEDAR LIVE ME A R E S ISLA ND, CLAYOQUOT SOUN D Meares Island © Adobestock / Annee
Hilthuu? is the Tla-o-qui-aht place name for Meares
logging the island. Both sides pursued legal action,
Island. Hilthuu? Is a significant part of the Haa-
and the court ruled that since the Nuu-chah-nulth had
huulthii—traditional territory, resources, rivers, songs
claimed that this was part of their traditional territory,
and names of the Tla-o-qui-aht Hawiih Hereditary
until that claim was resolved, no development could
Chiefs. Meares Island is one of the many islands sur-
occur on the whole of Meares Island. This essential-
rounding the Village of Tofino, British Columbia. It
ly granted an injunction in favour of the Nuu-chah-
received its English name in 1862 by George Henry
nulth, which was the first time in British Columbia's
Richards, captain of HMS Hecate, honoring of John
history that the province had been overruled on a land
Meares. Located in Clayoquot Sound, it is the location
claims issue.
of Opitsat, the main village of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, and was the location of a US fur-trading post, Fort Defiance, founded by Captain Robert Gray.
After declaring Meares Island a tribal park in 1984, the Tla-o-qui-aht extended parks declarations to Ha'uukmin (Kennedy Lake) in 2007. On the 30th anniversary
In the early 80s, Meares Island was in immediate dan-
of 1984's historic events, they declared Tranquil Creek
ger of clear cut logging. Concerned Tofino residents,
and Esowista (one of three Tla-o-qui-aht communi-
environmentalists, and the Nuu-chah-nulth First Na-
ties, located on Long Beach) Tribal Parks.
tions joined together to face off the big timber industry. This initial battle ground gave birth to BC’s “War of the Woods” which spread up to the Queen Charlottes and culminated into the largest act of peaceful disobedience in Canadian history! Meares Island became historically significant in 1984, when the Nuu-chah-nulth began protesting forestry giant MacMillan Bloedel's potential harvesting activities. The Nuu-chah-nulth, with significant cooperation from environmental groups, eventually erected a blockade, preventing MacMillan Bloedel from 6 | C O M PA S S M A G A Z I N E | I s s u e 2 9
The trees on Meares Island, age between 800 and 1,300 years, and are incredible to just stare at and connect with. Explore the fern carpeted forest floor and to hug some of the hugest and oldest life forms on this precious planet. From Tofino you can take a 10 minute boat cruise to Meares Island and visit the Big Tree trail or Lone Cone trail to hike to the Island’s summit for an eagles’ view of the surrounding area. The Big Tree trail has two parts. The trail begins as a W W W. C O M PA S S M A G A Z I N E . C A
