Stating his desire to help the west coast’s Toquaht First Nation bring its culture back to its people, Nanaimo’s Brian Chatwin is leading a fund-raising campaign to raise $20,000 to complete the carving of a 32-foot ocean-going canoe.
Chatwin, form the city’s Chatwin Engineering Ltd., said a lot of the traditions of the Toquaht people, whose traditional lands are located on the west side of Barlclay Sound, have been lost over the years and much of the band’s memorabilia has been carted off to museums around the world.
Chatwin said the completion of the canoe is the first step in reviving the heritage of the band that has traditionally relied on whale hunting.
“After the completion of the canoe, our focus will be on building a cultural centre in Macoah, the Toquaht people’s traditional village in the Toquart Bay area,” he said.
“A carver (Carl Martin) from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, located at nearby Long Beach and Meares Island, has been brought in to carve the canoe and teach the skills.”
Chatwin said he was named campaign chairman for this fund-raising project as he did work for the band’s chief, Bert Mack, in the past and thought they might be able to use his help in fund-raising.
“We’re knocking on doors and looking for corporate sponsors all over the region,” he said.
“So far, we’ve raised about $5,000 and we’re hoping to have the amount we need by September.”
Anyone wishing to contribute to the project can call Chatwin at (250) 753-9171.
