Nestled amidst the pristine beauty of Tofino on Vancouver Island, Tin Wis Resort stands as a beacon of transformation and reconciliation in the world of tourism. This Indigenous-owned resort not only offers visitors a tranquil escape but also plays a pivotal role in rewriting the narrative of tourism in Tofino. Today, we explore the remarkable journey of Tin Wis Resort, the profound significance of Orange Shirt Day in Canada, and the importance of supporting Indigenous communities when visiting Tofino.

Tin Wis Resort: A Journey of Reclamation

Tin Wis Resort, though now a haven of relaxation and natural splendor, holds a poignant history deeply intertwined with the Indigenous communities of the region. The resort is situated within Tla-o-qui-aht Ḥaaḥuułi and the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks, marking the ancestral home of the Tla-o-qui-aht people. For tens of thousands of years, this land served as the site of their ancestral village.

However, the land’s history also bears the scars of a painful past. Tin Wis was once the site of an Indian Residential School (IRS), specifically known as Christie Residential School (Tofino). In the Truth and Reconciliation Final Report, this institution is identified as a place where Indigenous children endured the harsh realities of forced assimilation and cultural erasure. The Christie Residential School was relocated to this site after the closure of Kakawis on Meares Island, making it the last IRS to close in British Columbia, though not the last in Canada (Saskatchewan, 1996).

The process of reclaiming this sacred ancestral site began in 1981 when a hostel and campground, operated by Tla-o-qui-aht, were established. This marked the early steps in the transformation of Tin Wis into a symbol of resilience and cultural preservation. Over the years, the resort has evolved into a space that not only provides employment opportunities for Tla-o-qui-aht citizens but also welcomes Nuu-chah-nulth workers from surrounding territories.

Orange Shirt Day: A Day of Remembrance and Healing

Orange Shirt Day is an annual event in Canada that carries profound significance in the journey towards reconciliation with Indigenous communities. It originated from the experiences of Phyllis Webstad, who, as a young Indigenous girl, had her brand new orange shirt taken from her on her first day at a residential school. This traumatic event left a lasting impact on her life and inspired the orange shirt as a symbol of the harm inflicted on Indigenous children and the need for healing.

Orange Shirt Day, observed on September 30th each year, serves as a reminder of the dark chapters in Canada’s history, particularly the residential school system. It is a day to honor survivors and their families while acknowledging the painful legacy of colonization. By wearing orange shirts, Canadians express their commitment to reconciliation and a brighter future for Indigenous communities.

Supporting Indigenous Communities in Tofino

When visiting Tofino, especially the Tin Wis Resort, tourists have a unique opportunity to contribute to the ongoing process of healing and reconciliation. Here are some meaningful ways to support Indigenous communities in Tofino:

1. Stay at Indigenous-Owned Accommodations: Opt for accommodations like Tin Wis Resort and Tsawaak RV Resort, which are owned and operated by Indigenous communities. Your stay directly benefits the local economy and provides employment opportunities.
2. Respect Cultural Protocols: Learn about the cultural protocols of the Indigenous communities in the area and respect them. This includes seeking permission before entering certain areas and understanding the significance of sacred sites.
3. Participate in Cultural Experiences: Engage in cultural tours with Ahous Adventures, support Indigenous owned businesses like TBird EBikes, and attend events offered by Indigenous organizations. This not only enriches your experience but also supports the preservation of traditions and knowledge.
4. Buy Indigenous Art and Crafts: Purchase authentic Indigenous art and crafts from local artisans. It’s a wonderful way to take home a piece of Indigenous culture and support Indigenous artists.
5. Educate Yourself: Take the time to educate yourself about the history, culture, and issues facing Indigenous communities in the region. Awareness is the first step towards understanding and empathy.
6. Support our Allies: Meet our Allies here. Every Ally here has agreed to support the Tribal Parks by collecting a 1% Ecosystem Service Fee on behalf of the First Nation.
7. Take the ʔiisaak Pledge: We invite you to take the ʔiisaak pledge, carrying these words in your heart as you travel.

Tin Wis Resort in Tofino, British Columbia, stands as a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of Indigenous communities to reclaim their ancestral lands and heritage. This Orange Shirt Day, as we remember the dark history of residential schools in Canada, let us also celebrate the progress made in the journey towards reconciliation.

Supporting Indigenous communities when visiting Tofino is not just about experiencing natural beauty; it’s about embracing a shared history and working together for a more inclusive and equitable future. By choosing to stay at Indigenous-owned accommodations, respecting cultural protocols, and engaging with Indigenous culture, we can contribute to the healing process and help rewrite the narrative of tourism in Tofino. Tin Wis Resort serves as a shining example of how tourism can be a force for positive change, honoring the past while embracing the future.

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Tin Wis is the ancestral home of Tla-o-qui-aht and has been stewarded by the people since time immemorial. To learn more about its history, please read, “Rough seas calming: Tin Wis, past, present, and future: https://tinwis.ca/rough-seas-calming-tin-wis-past-present-and-future/

by Erin Linn McMullan

You don’t have to wait for a blue moon or a supermoon to explore the world of wonders revealed at low tide on Tin̓uwis (aka MacKenzie Beach). The ocean-swept sand stretches out and wraps itself around the rocky headlands, and at zero and negative tides, an isthmus forms a narrow bridge to connect to the small grouping of offshore rocks directly across from the resort. Whether it’s cloaked in morning mist or moonlight, this is a magical place to visit. 

This intertidal zone has so much to teach us and within every tidal pool is a living classroom, filled with marine life from miniature crabs to blossoming green sea anemone to sea stars clinging in colourful constellations. An entire microcosm exists in each single pool.

Favourite family haunts include the tidal pools exposed at the foot of “Mushroom Island” and in Crystal Cove with its shallow wading pools and barnacle colonies clustering on rocky headlands.

Did you know that barnacles are crustaceans like crabs and lobsters (but without gills) and that they stand on their heads to feed? Or that the giant acorn barnacle can survive both for long periods out of water and up to 90 metres underwater? One variety of acorn barnacle, Cryptolepas rhachianecti, sometimes called the “gray whale barnacle”, hitchhikes on the whale during migration to improve its chances for food.

Chitons (pronounced ky-ton) are another mollusc with eight shells or plates and a girdle of muscle designed to help withstand heavy waves in the intertidal zone and considered a living fossil whose design has not changed significantly over 300 million years. There over 1,000 varieties, including the Chocolate Chiton which has been spotted locally.  

If you need help identifying marine life, including over 40 species of sea stars, as well as over 40 species of shorebirds, who live or migrate through here, you can download free apps like iNaturalist™ and SmartBird™ to your phone. Or consult these parent-recommended beachcombing books available at the local bookstore or library: Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest Coast: A Photographic Encyclopedia of Invertebrates, Seaweeds and Selected Fishes and Whelks to Whales: Coastal Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest.

Don’t forget to scan the surf for river otters, porpoises, and seals (Stellar, California, and occasionally, Elephant seals), and the horizon for whales (Humpbacks, Pacific gray whales, and Orcas) passing through the channel beyond this protected intertidal beach.

Imagine too the hidden worlds you may only catch a glimpse of from watery pocket-caves where octopi are sequestered, to mini-geysers erupting from the sand where geoducks dig in, to Etch-A-Sketch patterns traced across its smooth surface by burrowing blood worms below.

In spring and summer, you may spot a flotilla of tiny blue sailboat-like creatures washed ashore. Velella Velella – By the Wind Sailor – is a hydrozoan related to jellyfish and an entire colony of tiny polyps lives beneath the raft and sail-like fin that helps propel them across great distances in the ocean.

Tofino, traditionally known as Načiks (pronounced Na-chiks), located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the Pacific Northwest, experiences mixed semi-diurnal tides. This means that (generally) there are two tidal cycles per day with two lows and two highs of different lengths.

To help plan your low tide forays, you can pick up the Tofino Tide Guide at the reception desk at Tin Wis Resort or quickly consult an online resource like tide-forecast.com.

Remember to practice ʔiisaak, which is often translated as meaning “respect” but it’s also a verb: to be observant, to appreciate, AND to act accordingly.[1] Give the right of way and plenty of space if you encounter foraging wildlife. Leave no trace – take only photos and no souvenirs. That tiny shell may provide important housing for marine life.

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Please share your photos of your low tide treasures on social media by using the hashtags #lowtidetinwis and #lowtidetofino.

Practice a 5-minute beach clean-up if you find microplastics or other waste washed ashore. This can be a great teachable moment for children and help begin habits to last a lifetime.

Tin Wis is the ancestral home of Tla-o-qui-aht and has been stewarded by the people since time immemorial. To learn more about its history, please read, “Rough seas calming: Tin Wis, past, present, and future: https://tinwis.ca/rough-seas-calming-tin-wis-past-present-and-future/

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Other recommended low and negative tide destinations within Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks and in Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ traditional territory:

·      The tombolo (sandbar) that forms between North and South Chesterman Beaches and C̓ixwatsac (pronounced Tsix-wat-sats) aka Frank Island. [suggested link to word tombolo which features Frank Island: https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/geography-word-of-the-week-tombolo/]

·       During summer, Rosie Bay with its caves and tidal pools is accessible at low tide from South Chesterman. At extreme low tides, you may even reach Pettinger Point and connect via the trail to Č ̓aḥayis (pronounced Cha-ha-yis) aka Cox Bay. You can return via the MUP.

·     During negative tides, ƛaakašiis (pronounced Tlaa-ka-shiis) aka Tonquin Beach expands below the trail’s overlook to connect with Second and Third Beach where you can reconnect to its rainforest trail. 

·      qaanimč̓a aka Florencia Bay in Ucluelet, BC in the co-managed Pacific Rim National Park Reserve where a virtual moonscape of subtidal rocks is revealed at low tide. 

To learn more about Tla-o-qui-aht traditional place names please visit this local storymap: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bb32db98f93b42babe7627a24b96941a

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[1] Gisele Maria Martin, “Rough Seas Calming: Tin Wis, past, present, and future”: https://tinwis.ca/rough-seas-calming-tin-wis-past-present-and-future/

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Thanks to Lana, Brian, Annika, and Chloe for all the low tide adventures!