Ucluelet First Nation

Located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada the Ucluelet First Nation (UFN) traditional territory is spanned out over nine reservations. The main village of the UFN, Ittatsoo Reserve No. 1 (IR1) holds a population of approximately 200 residents and is located 28 kms from the rural community of Ucluelet.

The organizational structure of the UFN begins and coincides with the Tyee Hawiih, the membership and the following:
•	Chief and Council: a political body of 7 elected councillors (1 Chief and 6 Council Members) who sit as representatives for a two year term. The Chief and Council govern community affairs, with respect given to the Elders and Youth in the decision making process. The main portfolios are held and shared in areas such as Housing, Forestry, Fisheries, Economic Development, Treaty and Community and Human Services (CHS).
•	Standing Committees: a sub-committee of the Chief & Council consists of 5 members per team who make recommendations to the council and / or the membership in areas of Housing, Fisheries, Membership, Economic Development, Personnel, and Community and Human Services (CHS). Other Ad-hoc Committees include the Maa-nulth Eligibility and Enrolment and the Constitution Committee.
•	The Administration: services the community in all of the above areas and is broken down into departments such as general administration; housing, construction and maintenance; economic development; social development – including yearly Work Opportunity Programs; alcohol and drug addictions; general health and delivery of NIHB programs; family and child care services; education – including an on site learning centre and pre-school / daycare; treaty and membership.
•	The community also has its own voluntary organizations in various areas such as a volunteer fire department, Emergency Response Team, UFN Parents Club and UFN Ladies Group.

Office Administration and band business are mainly communicated through the following:
•	The Ucluelet First Nation Administration Office contains facilities for council meetings, committee meetings, community meetings and general office administration.
•	The Ucluelet First Nation Health Centre provides and administers general health services in NIHB Programs, Social Development, Alcohol and Drug Counselling, Nursing, Family and Child Services, and education.
•	The UFN Treaty office holds an abundant amount of information with regard to the treaty, history and archival materials of the Ucluelet First Nation. Other services administered through this office are membership and eligibility and enrolment.

The village also holds other facilities such as the Fire hall and the Ucluth Development Corporation Building, and Marina. The Fire hall is maintained by Fire Chief Wilson Jack and a volunteer fire department. The Ucluth Development Corporation is administered through a board of directors whose main goal is to plan and coordinate economic development opportunities. At present, the three story water front building holds four one bedroom apartments, a Laundromat and office space, which is currently occupied by the Central Region, Iisaak Forestry and the Economic Working Group. The Ucluth Marina provides moorage space for local fishers that live nearby.

Today, the community lives reasonably within their means. With a downturn of the major forestry industry, shortage of work in the fishing industry and closure of on-shore local processing plants, many members of the community are now employed in the rapidly growing tourism industry, while others are upgrading their education or gaining employment with smaller forestry companies.

Employment with the Ucluelet First Nation is minimal; however, as economic development grows more employment opportunities will become available. To date, the UFN are in partnership with companies such as Hittatsoo Limited Forest Company, UFN Holdings Company Ltd., Eagle Rock aggregates project, Upnit Power Corporation project and the Ucluth Development Corporation (who own the Thornton Motel in Ucluelet). The UFN also holds an ownership interest in the Iisaak Forest Resources Ltd. through participation in the Central Region Chiefs Administration.

Housing in the UFN community has been revived with the Grand Opening of 6 units in 2006, 6 units in 2007 and many more to come for the 2008 New Housing Year. The goal of the UFN is to continue with the planning and development of the new subdivision or Physical Development Plan (PDP), which will provide more housing units and community centres for the membership. Phase I of UFN's PDP is well underway is expected to be complete in 2008.

The children / youths (Kindergarten through Grade 12) commute to school by bus to the town of Ucluelet where they attend either Ucluelet Elementary School or Ucluelet Secondary School. On reserve educational programs are offered through the Ittatsoo Learning Centre, where students have the opportunity to upgrade through long distance education; or the Ittatsoo Preschool Daycare where a Head Start Program is delivered. During the summer, children / youth join a summer day camp where they participate in many different activities that offer them experience and encourages exercise.

The summer season is a time for community members to harvest, prepare and stock food for the winter season. During this time many items such as halibut, salmon, herring and berries are prepared traditionally by smoking or drying; or by jarring. Throughout the year other traditional foods are stocked such as deer, ducks, herring eggs, crab, sea urchin, clams, oysters and mussels.

The Ucluelet First Nation is proud to have the talent that thrives in and outside our community. There are many men and woman, who express themselves traditionally and artistically through carving, beading and weaving. Marking our time in history, the first ever totem pole was raised in March of 2005. Artist, James Cootes designed the totem with a thunderbird, killer whale, bear and a salmon. The pole is located at Quiisitis, IR 9 (Wickanninnish Beach) and sits as a welcoming figure noting a historical place where the UFN ancestors gathered during the fishing season.

With cooperation from our growing community, the wealth of knowledge of our elders and senior members can be passed on to our youth for years to come.

All our relations,
Cuu.