Grace Harbour facts for kids
Grace Harbour is a beautiful natural harbour located on the British Columbia Coast in Canada. It's a special place that has been home to the Tla'amin Nation for a very long time. This harbour is found near Desolation Sound, on the south side of the Gifford Peninsula.
Grace Harbour is also part of Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park. This park helps protect the area's natural beauty. A place called Kahkaykay Indian Reserve No. 6 used to be on the west side of the harbour. As of 2011, this land became regular private land due to the Sliammon Treaty. The point of land at the southwest corner of the harbour is called Kakaekae Point. This name comes from an ancient village that was once located there.
History of Grace Harbour
Ancient Tla'amin Village
The Tla'amin Nation has a special name for Grace Harbour in their language, Ayeahjuthum. They call it K'ák'ik'i, which sounds like Kah kee ky or Kahkeeky. This name means "camp overnight." It is believed to come from the word k'iymtan, which means "camping place."
This name refers to both the harbour's waters and a very important village site on its shores. This village was a major gathering place. Winter ceremonies were held here for all the Tlo'hos (Klahoose), Xwe'malhkwu (Homalco), and Tla'amin (Sliammon) groups. These groups were once united before colonization separated them into different bands.
Cultural Significance
An islet, which is a small island, just offshore from the village site was used as a speaking podium. This shows how important the area was for community gatherings and discussions.
There are many ancient sites and trade trails in the Grace Harbour area. The Tla'amin people still use this land today. They gather food and traditional medicines here. Many important stories from their culture are connected to this place.
However, the popularity of the provincial park has made it harder for the Tla'amin people to use the site for their traditional practices. Many tourists visit the area, which can sometimes interfere with native uses of the land.
See also
- List of settlements in British Columbia
