Tseshaht First Nation is rolling out — literally — a new mini longhouse showcasing the nation’s history, culture and art.
The nearly 10-metre-long interpretive centre has been popping up at special events, with plans to take it to the Tseshat Market on Pacific Rim Highway, the last full-service station between Port Alberni, and the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet.
The longhouse was at the Alberni District Fall Fair at the start of this month and had another event this week.
Clad inside and out with cedar from the nation’s land, the longhouse contains artifacts that were discovered during dozens of archaeological digs in its territory over many years, said Ken Watts (Wahmeesh), elected chief councillor of the Tseshaht Nation.
“We have artifacts that are hundreds, if not thousands of years old,” said Watts, adding a visit to the longhouse “tells a whole story about who we are and where we come from.”
The nation worked with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council in Brentwood Bay to win a heritage infrastructure grant to help pay for the longhouse’s construction.
A contractor used a tiny-house shell to create the structure.
Other First Nations have been impressed with the project and have told Watts they would like to do something similar, he said.
The Tseshaht Nation, which has more than 1,300 members, is one of 14 nations that make up the Nuu-chah-nulth people on the west side of Vancouver Island.
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