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| The view from our Yurt at Wya Point |
Well, that’s not entirely true. The First Nation people who live here, and the frequent visitors seem to manage quite easily.
The community of Ucluelet, for example, is called “Uke” for short. But the native name for it is “Yuul?il?ath.” Pronounce the question marks as a consonant in the roof of your mouth and you can come close.
We are deep into our vacation, 1,200 miles north of smokey Murphys, staying in an oceanside Yurt at Wya Point. We are staying on native treaty lands just outside the Pacific Rim National Park. The resort town of Tofino is a few kilometers north. This is a far west as you can get in this part of Canada, and there are no roads to the north. They use boats and planes.
During a short hike we enjoyed hearing Canadian tourists arguing over the whales we saw were Orcas or Grey Whales. Matters not to us.
This area was inaccessible for most people until a road was built across the island of Vancouver in the 1950s. Now it is a sought-after resort area, mostly campgrounds and surfers, hikers and kayakers, but with a distinctive native chill out ambiance.
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| Pat reads the "welcome" book at the Wya Resort yurt |
The Ucluelet First Nation people have lived here for 7,000 years, and through a treaty they have taken control (regained?) 600 acres of old growth rainforest on the edge of the Pacific, the almost forgotten Pacific side of Vancouver Island.
No casino here, just a beautiful place, well cared for where guests are welcomed. To quote the welcome page in our yurt: “The yurts are a part of a First Nation cultural destination resort ...
The Yuul?il?ath cultural connection to the land means that sustainability is the guiding principle for all aspects of Wya Point development..”
Everything is made from local products, including the cedar floors in the yurts, and the nearby lodges have earned a LEED Platinum award. That means it is very green.
That also means the showers and toilets use non-potable water, limited electrical power from battery kits and generators, and drinking water is hauled in every day.
But that allows us the privilege is being nestled into the edge of the cedar rain forest overlooking a beach. At sunset last night a big crowd of maybe 8 or ten people were visible.
My photos cannot do this place justice, but it gets two thumbs up, more if I had them.
Meanwhile, here are a few local names to consider: Amphitrite is the lighthouse; Du-Quah is the native art gallery, Otalith is the local music festival, Cynamocka is a road, Ukee Scoops is the ice cream parlor, Kwisitis is the Feast House Restaurant located on Wickaninnish Beach, popular with surfers but with miles of sand and driftwood that no one comes near.
You get the idea.
So, Nuu-cha-nulth
(Take Care and Thank You).
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| From the beach |
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| A two-person Yurt, with deck and million dollar view, cost us $113 a night |
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