OUR STORY
Explore the History and Culture of
KIIX̣IN VILLAGE
ABOUT HUU-AY-AHT FIRST NATIONS
Huu-ay-aht First Nations is a self-governing First Nation and signatory to the Maa-Nulth First Nations Final Agreement. The Traditional Territory and Treaty Settlement Land is situated in Barclay Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, at the entrance to Alberni Inlet. The Nation is committed to balancing the objectives of strong and diverse economic growth with environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
KIIX̣IN FACTS
Kiix̣in Village and Fortress National Historic Site of Canada is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, strategically set between the rugged outer coast and the protected inner waters of Barkley Sound. Kiix̣in is the site of a 19th-century village and fortress that exhibits evidence of occupation dating to 1000 B.C.E. It also remains a sacred site to present-day Huu-ay-aht First Nations. Official recognition refers to four distinct archaeological sites, which include the main village and fortress, and two related archaeological sites.
KIIX̣IN IS THE TRADITIONAL CAPITAL VILLAGE
of the Huu-ay-aht, a Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation. It is the only known First Nations village of more than 100 villages on the southern B.C. coast that still features significant, standing traditional architecture. Much is known about Kiix̣in, thanks to associated historic information gleaned from oral histories, archaeology, and archival records. This demonstrates continuous occupation of the area for almost 3,000 years. The village is characteristic of Nuu-chah-nulth defensive sites and warfare patterns, resource extraction and commercial practices, and offers key insights into changing Nuu-chah-nulth political and economic patterns in the 18th and 19th centuries.
