Wickaninnish facts for kids

Wickaninnish (pronounced "wik-uh-NIH-nish") was an important chief of the Tla-o-qui-aht people. His name means "Nobody sits or stands before him in the canoe," showing his high status. He lived in the 1780s and 1790s in Clayoquot Sound, which is on what we now call Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. This was a time when Europeans first started to meet the Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

His name is also spelled in different ways, like Wickaninish or Wikinanish. He was sometimes known as Hiyoua.

Wickaninnish and Maquinna

Wickaninnish was a rival of Maquinna, another powerful chief from the Mowachaht people in Nootka Sound. Even though they were rivals, they were also related through family ties and marriage.

There was a disagreement between them that involved Maquinna's brother, Callicum. This event led to a conflict between the Mowachaht and the Tla-o-qui-aht people. John R. Jewitt, a person held captive by Maquinna, wrote about Wickaninnish in his stories.

Conflict with the Tonquin

In June 1811, Wickaninnish became upset with the actions of an American ship captain named Jonathan Thorn. Captain Thorn was leading a trip on a ship called the Tonquin, which belonged to the Pacific Fur Company. He had tried to trade with the Tla-o-qui-aht people.

This disagreement led to a major event known as the Battle of Woody Point. During this battle, Tla-o-qui-aht warriors attacked Captain Thorn and most of his crew. As the Tla-o-qui-aht people were taking goods from the Tonquin, a crew member who had survived caused the ship to explode.

Places Named After Wickaninnish

Several places in British Columbia are named in honor of Chief Wickaninnish. These include:

• Wickaninnish Beach, which is part of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
• Wickaninnish Island.
• Wickaninnish Bay.
• The Wickaninnish Inn, a well-known hotel, restaurant, and spa located on Chesterman Beach, near Long Beach.