Hupacasath First Nation will take centre stage at Maritime Heritage Night on Nov. 26 at the Hutcheson Gallery.
The Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society is hosting the event, with the theme of “Boom Boats.” The star of the show is the newly-restored boom boat “Tatoosh,” which, according to a previous owner, was named for the late cultural teacher and blues singer Edward “Tat” Tatoosh.
The little vessel has been installed on a cradle outside the Hutcheson Gallery at Lighthouse Pier on Harbour Road. The event will open with a welcoming and performance by the Hupacasath Cultural Dancers, led by Julianne Hamilton, who has worked at the facility for the past two years.
Hamilton said a feature song has an immediate connection to the vessel and to the singer.
“Tat had a traditional song that he passed down to one of our singers, Tom Tatoosh,” Hamilton said. “Tom Tatoosh now has the right to sing the song.
“I really emphasize the Tat Song with our dance group. It involves the kids, and they love doing the song. I did this song in kindergarten, so I’ve known the song for a while.”
But for every fact learned about the little boat, a new mystery emerges, according to heritage society member Paul McDougall, who discovered the vessel last summer, lying on its side, half buried in a corner of the Port Alberni City Works yard.
The term “boom boat” typically refers to the type of small log-handling boat with a swiveling propeller amidships, first invented by Alberni Engineering. The Tatoosh, built in Nanaimo by Madill, has a fixed propeller at the stern, and is more correctly known as a “dozer boat.”
According to one source, it was first brought to the Alberni Valley in the 1950s to work on the construction of the Elsie Lake Dam, and was used by a succession of owners in a number of locations until it was donated to the city, where it languished for years.
“This is the Tatoosh II, apparently,” McDougall said. “We’re just slowly finding out the history about it.”
McDougall said he first noticed the abandoned vessel while out walking his dog, and he mentioned it at a heritage society meeting. It was agreed that the Tatoosh would be a worthy restoration project.
“I spent a few days shoveling the dirt out of it and pulling out the blackberries just to show the City guys we were serious.”
Staff members from the City Works and Parks and Recreation Department pitched in to help unearth and transport the vessel, and also fabricated a new cabin floor and a door from wood as the restoration progressed.
Society member Edna Cox has organized the Maritime Heritage Night, with her husband Dave. While the Tatoosh is the feature exhibit for the evening, the goal is as much to learn from the audience as to tell the story of the boat. A number of speakers have been recruited.
“I have tried to get people who have a chronological relationship with it, but that has been tough,” Cox said.
K.G. (Soup) Campbell, who once operated the Tatoosh out of Bamfield, has committed to take part, along with Geo Monrufet, who operated boom boats before taking the helm of the Lady Rose.
Former owner Pat McKay has been invited, and Cox hopes to have a representative from the Greene family (also former owners) and from Alberni Engineering.
“Then there will be a chance for other people to tell their stories… on any topic, not just the Tatoosh.”
On Friday, Dave and Edna Cox joined Hamilton in welcoming a class from Vast alternative school for a tour of the Hutcheson Gallery. For the past two years, Hishok–Tseshaht Whaling, at One with the Whale, has been a feature attraction.
As part of the visit, the students stepped outside to pay a visit to the new exhibit. Vast instructor Angie Miller said she now plans to do some family research of her own.
“My Dad, Earl Tatoosh, after working on the boom boats, was a tug boat skipper for Stone Brothers and Pacific Towing for years. He retired out of there.”
On Maritime Heritage Night, the Tatoosh will be open for viewing from 6:30 p.m., with the welcome at 7 p.m. Admission is free, donations are welcomed. There will be refreshments following the presentations.
“I am so glad to have a chance to share Hupacasath culture,” Hamilton said. “I’ve spent the last two summers at the museum teaching people about Tseshaht culture and history. Hopefully, we’ll perform the Hupacasath Song as well.”
