Ba'as / Blunden Harbour
Home community of the ‘Nakwaxda'xw People. An ancient origin site, Ba’as became the principal village of the ‘Nakwaxda’xw from 1884 until the relocation to Tsulquate in 1964.
From their base at Blunden Harbour, the ‘Nakwaxda’xw travelled with the seasons, living off the rich resources of Seymour Inlet and islands like the Deserters Group while working in the canneries and in the commercial fishing industry up and down the coast. The village with its boardwalk and carved figures was the scene of a vibrant social and cultural life, captured in two early ethnographic films. The 1914 film, by Edward Curtis, In the Land of the War Canoes, featured ‘Nakwaxda’xw actors and many scenes shot at Ba’as and in 1951, ethnographic filmmaker Robert Gardner made a documentary of daily life at Ba’as called Blunden Harbour. A third film, How A People Live, was made in 2013 and describes the village life and relocation in the words of both Gwa’sala and ‘Nakwaxda’xw elders. |
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Photos
Videos
YAGALIS
A story by Baby Girl about her grandfather Yagalis (John Charlie Sr) |
Littleneck Clams, Stinging Nettles and Sea Urchins
Tommy Henderson talks about traditional medicines |
An Easy Day of Fishing
Peewee (Mary Rufus) shares a story about fishing in Blunden Harbour |
Videos on Youtube
Blunden Harbor
Robert Gardner with William Heick, 1951 (DER))
Robert Gardner with William Heick, 1951 (DER))
Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations
gwanaknations.ca |