– The 2016 Tic-Kaa ii-Kwink (Northern Region Summer Games) was hosted by Kyuquot/Checlesaht First Nations during a weekend of glorious summer weather that saw families enjoy three days of sports, socializing and culture.
Coordinated by Allison Vincent, the games started on the afternoon of Aug. 26 with a very special welcoming home ceremony for northern region children in foster care. Ten children were paddled home, welcomed by their family and friends at the Kyuquot village of Houpsitas.
People gathered at the community hall for lunch before climbing the hill to the school field for an afternoon of running races.
See photos here: http://www.hashilthsa.com/gallery/northern-region-games-kyuquot
Parents and grandparents huddled under umbrellas on the sidelines in an attempt to escape the heat as the youngsters raced across the field; some barefoot, braving the hot, brittle grass in an effort to be first across the finish line. Others found playful ways to cool down, splashing each other with water toys or shoveling a handful of ice down the shirt of an unsuspecting loved one.
Peter and Daizee Hanson endured heat from the barbecue to serve up Indian tacos and other goodies at their concession stand.
Kyuquot Ha’wiih and elders gathered together following the races to make some presentations. Games coordinator Allison Vincent introduced Kyuquot elders Victor Hanson and Chris Jules as the games’ first King and Queen. Vincent told the crowd that the couple were recently engaged to be married.
Following that announcement the children in care that were visiting home for the games were called forward. Dennis John introduced the children to the Ha’wiih and to the people. He thanked Usma staff for making it possible for the children to come home.
Directing his attention to individual children, he told each one who they are related to and who their chief is. At one point he asked people in the crowd to raise their hand if they are related to the child. This was a demonstration of family connections and showing the children how large their families are and how they belong.
“Always remember, this is your home, this is your family and you are directly related to the Ha’wiih,” he told the children.
Each child was given a hand-made traditional shawl. Then they were blanketed by people from their community. Earlier in the day they and all other guests were given commemorative 2016 Tic-Kaa ii-Kwink Northern Region Games T-shirts.
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council President Deb Foxcroft and NTC Usma staff were also blanketed and thanked for the work they do with Nuu-chah-nulth children and families and for bringing the children home to partake in the games.
Track events were cut short due to a medical evacuation and people ended the day with a community dinner.
The following morning people gathered again at the community hall for breakfast followed by a mini fishing gear-making workshop. Children were invited to a fishing derby that morning but most didn’t have fishing rods. That isn’t a problem in Nuu-chah-nulth communities as long as you have some hooks, sinkers, fishing line and a stick.
Young women helped dozens of children make their own fishing lines so that nobody was left out of the derby.
Down at the dock children jockeyed for space to drop their fish lines and jig for the biggest fish. Kyuquot/Checlesaht Chief Administrative Officer Gary Ardron collected the morning catch, keeping track of who caught the biggest fish.
The fishing derby ended when it came time to board boats to the former main village, Aktis. Ardron spilled the kids’ catch back into the ocean as packed coolers, chairs and other beach fun gear aboard boats for the short trip to Aktis.
Aktis is a small island with beautiful beaches and haunting, abandoned homes falling into ruin. The locals say the people moved from there to Houpsitas back in the 1960’s. They visit their old home every summer to reconnect with their ancestors and their pasts.
People in small boats landed on the sand beach while the larger boats deposited their passengers on nearby seaweed covered rocks. Some of the local teens kayaked across the channel to Aktis. The children are so well-practised at kayaking that even the smaller children were seen skilfully navigating their way along the shoreline in small kayaks.
Once at the beach volunteers immediately got busy building three fires spaced evenly across the beach for people to roast hotdogs. Young men scoured the shoreline for driftwood, lugging large pieces back over rocky shorelines to feed the fires.
Children spent the afternoon competing in swimming and kayak racing while adults mingled together, enjoying one another’s company.
Later in the afternoon the fishermen arrived with their catch, bringing fresh salmon to be served up at the beach feast. The arrival of five, fresh, whole salmon brought an opportunity for another competition: who is the fastest fish cutter?
People clamoured around a make-shift table as five competitors vied for the title. In the end, Tic-Kaa ii-Kwink Queen and elder Chris Jules finished first.
Volunteers roasted the salmon over the fire and later served it up with salad for a healthy, satisfying beach dinner. With full bellies everyone gathered up their belongings and boarded boats back to the village. When darkness fell organizers put on a fireworks show that was enjoyed by all. The evening wrapped up with culture night at the school.
