Acknowledgements

First, my thanks go to the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council. The late Earl George was my constant companion on research trips and visits to Ahousat.⁷ Hesquiaht Chief Simon Lucas offered valuable wisdom. Many Chiefs and Elders supported my efforts but never made any attempt to check my own voice; there has been enough in the written historical record and public documents to tell a story that runs generally parallel to theirs. At the grand council of the NTC at Ahousat I was asked to present my findings, in this way repaying the kindnesses shown to me. I had come to pay homage and to honour the history of these people. “How should I dress for this?” I asked lawyer Jack Woodward in advance.

“I will wear my best suit,” he replied, “My clients like to see that I am treating their case with every respect as a trial lawyer.”

I took a cue from this, and I dressed similarly. When later that same day I saw the Native regalia and dress that was worn, I realized I had come properly attired. This is a sidelight on the story of Meares Island as I tell it, but it serves to demonstrate the seriousness and formality with which we tackled the case and its historic significance. We were, in our own ways, making history. The research was as exciting as it was compelling, and all sorts of stories and secrets were revealed as the past was brought to light.

Except where noted, documentation comes from the National Archives of Canada; British Columbia Archives; Department of Northern Affairs, Government of Canada (Vancouver office); the National Archives, Kew (Admiralty and Colonial Office Papers); Hydrographic Records Office, Taunton, Somerset; Massachusetts Historical Society; Oregon Historical Society; and Maritime Museum of British Columbia. I thank the archivists and librarians for their assistance. British Columbia Archives’ inspired Sound Heritage series, in which William Langlois, Barbara Efrat, Bob Bossin and others made truly outstanding contributions to British Columbia’s early history, provided aural evidence and explanatory commentary essential to many of the revelations found in this book. Their work was heroic. The story of Father Brabant derives from his memoir. F.W. Howay, Robin Fisher, James Gibson, Mary Malloy and Valerie Sherer Mathes have made significant contributions to cross-cultural and trade studies, and I am in their debt. I also thank Richard Blagborne for details on the yacht Templar; Rick Charles, for advice on John Meares’ sailing into Clayoquot Sound, and also for taking me on a charming personal voyage of discovery to Adventure Cove; Malcolm Crockett, for advice; Kim Davies and Gordon Miller, for items various about my text; Greg Dening, for inspiration and insistence that I must keep writing history; John Dewhirst, for advice on so many of the themes of this work; E.W. Giesecke, for knowledge about the Tonquin; Ken and Dot Gibson, for advice and friendship over decades; David W. Griffiths, Tonquin Foundation, for information on the possible anchor of Astor’s Tonquin; Walter Guppy, for his history of the settlement period; Edmund Hayes, for explanations about the expedition he made with Samuel Eliot Morison in search of Adventure Cove, and for many discussions about Tonquin; Margaret Horsfield and Ian Kennedy, historians of Tofino and Clayoquot Sound, for help in many ways; Robin Inglis, for material on why Maquinna called John Meares a liar; Hewitt Jackson, Steve Mayo and Gordon Miller for artistic appreciations; John Lutz, for inspired revelations about makúk; Don Mitchell, for archaeological evidence and interpretation; John Motherwell, for land title searches; J. Richard Nokes, for insights into John Meares; Camilla Turner, for discussion of Chinook jargon as trade language; J.S. Whittaker, for advice and information on land law and survey techniques. It is a matter of regret and sadness that numerous persons who aided me in my quest are no longer with us. I owe a debt of grateful thanks to my esteemed editor Audrey McClellan and to the editors and staff of Harbour Publishing. I alone am responsible for errors of omission and commission.