Hupacasath First Nation

The Hupacasath First Nation is a First Nations government based in the Alberni Valley on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. An alternate spelling of Hupacasath is Opetchesaht or Opitchesaht. Hupacasath First Nation consists of approximately 300 members across five reserves.

In September 2012, the Government of Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement signed a trade agreement with Chinese investors giving them control over major assets such as coal on its 232,000-hectare territory. It comes into effect when it has been ratified by both sides. The Hupacasath First Nations "community argued in federal court in June that the federal government is required to consult First Nations under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, which provides constitutional protection to the aboriginal and treaty rights of aboriginal peoples in Canada."

For thousands of years the Hupacasath people have occupied their traditional territory on Central Vancouver Island (See Traditional Territory Map). The Hupacasath are three distinct tribes: the Muh-uulth-aht, Kleh-koot-aht and Cuu-ma-as-aht (Ahahswinis).

The Muh-uulth-aht people (means people from where there is mountain with the face burnt off) lived in the Great Central Lake area with villages located at the head of Great Central Lake and around the Beaver Creek area of Stamp Falls. Their chief was named Kanaawis (Kanowish) who was a great warrior in his time. This area was and still is a great place for hunting deer, elk fowl, etc. as well for fishing and food gathering activities.

The Cuu-ma-as-ath people lived at Ahahswinis (means cleared in the middle), which was in the general vicinity of where the Port Alberni City is located now, to the Coleman Creek area down the Alberni Canal. Their village was where the current settlement is now located, on the Somass River. Salmon fishing, hunting, gathering, and potlatching were important activities carried out by the people in their traditional territory.

The Kleh-koot-aht people resided around Kleh-koot (Sproat Lake) (means long stretch of level land). Kleh-koot-aht's area was between Yaaqis (Prairie Farm) and Sproat Falls and there was a seasonal village located on the Sproat River. This village was a place for fishing and smoking salmon, picking blackberries, and hunting deer. There was a longhouse here where they performed potlatches in the winter season.

The Cuu-ma-as, Klehkoot and Muhuulaht people decided to amalgamate prior to the Europeans' arrival. This decision was made because each of the tribes were at war with the Coast Salish people and they thought that joining the three tribes would make them stronger in their war against the Salish.

After the amalgamation, the three tribes decided that they were to be called the Hupacasath. The strongest warrior, Kanaawis, was chosen as grand chief.

The Hupacasath people exercise their aboriginal rights (self-determination in governance, land, resources and culture) in their traditional territory. Use of the territory is governed by the seasons. Hupacasath follow the migratory patterns of the deer and seasonal runs of the salmon.