Alert Bay

Alert Bay is home to the ‘Namgis, the third ranked tribe of the Kwakwaka’wakw, the Kwak’wala Speaking People. It lies cradled in the arms of Cormorant Island, a three mile long and a half-mile wide island, located about three kilometers off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island in the beautiful inside passage of Johnstone Strait, British Columbia.

First impressions of Alert Bay are powerful. One of the best-preserved and still vibrant Native villages in western Canada, it is a short ferry ride from Pt. McNeill on northern Vancouver Island. The village is graced with an abundance of captivating First Nation ancestral poles, including one of the tallest in the world. As visitors approach, totem poles face the waters, and the painted house fronts of the Big House and the U’mista Cultural Centre can be viewed from approaching vessels.

Born from volcanic rock, the rugged North Island region features a largely uninhabited wilderness of forests, lakes and snow-capped peaks - a unique, natural paradise. Alert Bay's surrounding waterways are home to Killer Whales, Sea Lions, Porpoises and Dolphins. To the local island people, it is know as the Home of the Killer Whale and whale-watching season is mid June to mid October.

The area is rich in aboriginal history and is primarily populated by the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation. Evidence of native villages can be found on many nearby islands, including Vancouver Island, where the ‘Namgis originate from. The natural beauty of the area has not been altered by large developments and most beaches are accessible by foot.

Knight Inlet is about a two-hour boat ride south of Alert Bay and this area is home to one of the largest concentrations of grizzly bears in British Columbia. Starting in late April the bears return to the estuary from hibernation and start the year off feeding on the sedges, succulents, grasses and barnacles that abound in the estuaries. This luxuriant spring growth provides the basic nutritional needs for the bears and draws them from the mountains down to the estuary. From mid August to late September, as the salmon return to the river, it is not uncommon for up to 50 bears to be seen within five miles along the shoreline. Grizzly bear watching guided tours are arranged by Homalco Wildlife Tours in Campbell River from late August to the beginning of October.

Knight Inlet is a fjord that juts 105 kilometers deep into the wilderness of British Columbia’s mainland. As one of the largest fjords on the B.C. coast, it offers visitors spectacular scenery of glacial-fed water.

Today, Alert Bay is a well-known centre for the powerful resurgence of Native culture and hosts some of the region's finest historical and cultural artifacts, Kwakwaka’wakw paintings and totem poles. In addition to the unique opportunity to enjoy the rich cultural heritage and celebrations of the island, visitors can enjoy many activities such as whale watching, kayaking, hiking and biking.

Alert Bay houses one of the finest collections of elaborately carved cedar masks depicting the Potlatch ceremony of the Kwakwaka'wakw People. The items were returned to the people after being seized and held for almost 60 years because of the ban on Potlatching.

The village provides a range of services, including financial (ATM), pharmacy, gift shops, liquor store, laundry, full-service salon and a gym, all located within walking distance of the ferry. A variety of restaurants are conveniently located in the downtown area. A breakwater and government wharf, located close to the marine fuel docks, provides safe moorage, laundry and shower services.

While Alert Bay's economy is still influenced by commercial fishing, it has gained a reputation as an “off the beaten path” tourism destination emphasizing First Nations culture, its natural environment and eco-tours. Educational institutions throughout the world regularly station researchers here to study the Kwakwaka’wakw culture and the pristine marine habitat, and many cross cultural exchanges have been enjoyed and hosted by the U’mista and the ‘Namgis community.

A rare chance to see:

• World’s tallest totem pole
• Whale rubbing beach
• Inside the Big House

How much?

• The finest collection of ceremonial potlatch regalia $ by donation
• Medicinal native plant tour $25 - $60
• Day at the Sea Fest Celebration