First Nations Importance

 

Traditional territory of the Ditidaht and the Pacheedaht first nations, Sombrio beach has a diverse history. With territory ranging from Cowichan to Pachena Bay, including marine harvesting sites and a village site at Sombrio Beach, the Ditidaht and Pacheedaht tribes considered themselves rich with food and land (Our History and Culture). Sacred to these tribes is a hidden waterfall up a creek at Sombrio beach (Naylor, 2014). Though their tetrritory was large, property rights were fiercely guarded, highlighting the attachment the people had with their environment (Our History and Culture). Upon James Douglas's arrival to Vancouver Island, he estimated there to be 539 aboriginals in the area. Though the people worked with the Hudson’s Bay Company, oral stories of Europeans raiding and killing off of entire villages resulted in the amalgamation of separate tribes into family groups (Our History and Culture). These groups were eventually displaced to reserves; however, as they did not receive the opportunity to negotiated a treaty, these reserves were not within traditional village sites and by 1914 there were only 155 peoples of the Ditidaht tribe (Our History and Culture). Though populations have increased, the effects of displacement and the loss of the communities sense of place has resulted in high poverty rates within the indigenous community. Upon development of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, the Ditidaht and Pacheedaht tribes gained a level of authority as they negotiated a treaty with the Government of British Columbia that included an initiative to protect coastal land within traditional territory (Ditidaht First Nation and Pacheedaht First Nation Amended Framework Agreement, 1997).