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by William Wasden Jr.

24 pages; Saddle stitched; colour and black and white images; French/English/Namgis; catalogue #05-1480; ISBN 1-4120-6569-0; US$13.00, C$14.95, EUR10.68, £7.48

A story written by Hiłmas, a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations. This is a true story of four brothers walking an ancient trail that was used extensively by their ancestors for trade.

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About the Book

Most often the stories about the Kwakiutl or the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations are written by anthropologists or research students. This book is written by a First Nations person who is a member of the ’Namgis tribe of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations. The Path of Our Ancestors is the story of the first present-day hike across an ancient trail used by First Nations people and their trading partners from the West Coast of Vancouver Island in the territories of the Nuchanuulth people. Traditionally, people from the ‘Namgis First Nation traded the highly coveted eulachon oil for such items as sea otter pelts. This is why the trail is called the Grease Trail or T̕łiʼna T̕a̱xsola in our kwak̕wala language. The trail starts on the east side of northern Vancouver Island in the territory of the ’Namgis people. Included in this story is the period during the great flood and shortly after when the flood receded and enabled U’małame’ to begin exploring his territory again. The magical myths have enticed the four brothers to retrace the path of their ancestors and reopen the Grease Trail for limited guided hikes. Information about the hikes is available by contacting the U’mista Cultural Centre at 250-974-5403 or 800-690-8222 or by email to info@umista.ca

About the Author

Hiłmas was born and raised in Alert Bay, BC where he currently resides. Hiłamas is the Director of the Gwa’wina Dance Performers, a composer of traditional Potlatch ceremony songs and an initiate of the Hamat̕sa Society. He teaches song and dance in the community and he is a student of kwak̕wala language learning. Presently he is an cultural intern at the U’mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay. Hiłmas is immersing himself in the traditional ways of his ancestors.

Excerpts