Ahousaht First Nation (Canada)

Ahousaht First Nation is in British Columbia, Canada. It is part of Nuuh-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council. Ahousaht is a small community predominantly composed of First Nations people from the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation. It has about 1,800 members, almost half of which live in the reserve of Maaqtisiis.

From its website:

General Information:

Twenty-five reserves on 591.80 hectares. The main communities on Marktosis I.R. No. 15, on Flores Island. The island is off the west coast of central Vancouver Island and is only accessible by float plane or boat.

History:

Reserves allotted in 1889 by Commissioner O'Reilly. Ahousaht is from a Nootka word probably meaning "facing opposite from the ocean" or "people living with their backs to the land and mountains." The original home of the Ahousaht Band was on the exposed western shore of Vargas Island. In 1951 the Ahousaht and Kelsemaht bands merged to form the present First Nation.

About the flag:

The flag contest was first developed in our language program, Sidney Sam Sr spoke about having a flag to identify who we are and where we come from. The decision was made to have a design contest on Aboriginal Day 2006. We had many local artists enter their creative designs. The community received 20 drawings and all had a chance to view the designs and vote on their favourite.

The winner of the flag design contest: Josephine Mack, 15 yrs old.

Valentin Poposki, 25 April 2007