Hupacasath and Tseshaht representatives were on hand April 1st as neighbor Port Alberni celebrated the launch of its year-long commemoration of the city’s 100th anniversary of incorporation.
The event, entitled Step Back in Time, was held at Alberni District Secondary School, and coincided with the date of the first ever city council meeting April 1, 1912. A twin community at the time was Alberni, which incorporated as a city in 1913, but it was many decades later in 1967 when the two communities amalgamated.
Hupacasath Chief Councillor Steven Tatoosh and Tseshaht Councillor Willard Gallic welcomed the audience to their nations’ shared traditional territory. The Hupacasath dancers and drummers performed an opening song.
In his welcoming remarks, Gallic noted that 100 years from a First Nations’ perspective is just like being an infant.
Gallic also talked about the growing relationship between the city and the First Nations of the area, saying while there is a long path ahead, the relationship is on the right track.
As part of the afternoon event, Gallic, Tatoosh, and Port Alberni Mayor John Douglas signed a Goodwill Proclamation that recognizes that the histories of the Hupacasath and Tseshaht date back far longer than 100 years, and the citizens of the area wish their next 100 years to proceed in co-operation based on mutual respect, friendship and collaboration.
The centennial celebration was staged both outside and in ADSS. Outside, vintage vehicles, including those used in the logging industry, were on display. Inside there was a crush of people looking at enlarged photographs of the city as it was at its beginning. Commemorative pins, hats and T-shirts were for sale in the school’s lobby. All around, people were in the spirit of the day, dressed in period-appropriate costume.
A documentary video entitled Big Trees, Big Water: A City is Born was premiered in the theatre. Big Trees was born out of a collaboration of such talents as Nene Kraneveldt, who provided narration, with Willard Gallic providing the Tseshaht voice, and Shayne Morrow, Ha-Shilth-Sa contributor, who is credited with researching and writing the work. It speaks to the beginning of non-Native settlement in the area with a nod to the traditional and historical peoples of the territory. The documentary recounts the development of the waterfront, the industry that was the economic driver of the city, and the challenges of 100 years of growth and change.
Performances by the Timber Choir, Pat Cummings School of Dance and the reading of the Port Alberni Centennial Poem by author Wendy Morton rounded out the formal presentations.
Dignitaries included Connie Watts, a member of the BC Arts Council, Alberni –Pacific Rim MLA Scott Fraser and Ida Chong, minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, whose government has pledged $75,000 to help the City of Port Alberni make local arts and culture an important part of the community's 100th anniversary celebrations.
Alberni Valley Museum also opened its doors to the public with a new exhibit entitled Twin Cities Turn 100. The exhibit will focus on the establishment of the two cities by exploring the development of the 'building blocks' of a city such as transportation, commerce, electricity, postal service, fire/police and schools and how these developments led to incorporation. The exhibit runs until Feb. 2, 2013.
There are many events planned for the year, including Homecoming Weekend Aug. 3 to 5 which will include an art exhibit at the train station, puddle duck races and sail past, a beard and bonnet contest, and an Art Rave.
