In a secluded cove accessible only by boat from Tofino, B.C., a floating resort with 16 rooms is preparing to open its doors, but for the Ahousaht First Nation, the project is about far more than tourism. Wahous Wilderness Resort is set to welcome its first guests July 2, marking the culmination of years of renovations, rebuilding and planning in Ahousaht territory. Ahousaht Hereditary Chief Maquinna says the project represents a turning point for the Nation. “It’s like buying our properties back,” he said. “We’re really excited to begin a new venture where we’re not relying so much on government to do things for us.” The resort sits on a floating barge-style lodge surrounded by forested shoreline and calm inlet waters. It has been extensively renovated since the Nation acquired the property, including upgrades to guest rooms, infrastructure, water systems and wastewater treatment. Maquinna said the goal was to make the site durable for the long term. “We wanted to do a complete renovation where we’re not having to look at doing any more fixes for the next 20 years,” he said. The project originally began with a different vision. Maquinna said the Nation had intended to develop the site as a healing centre for Indigenous communities and met with government officials about the idea. But the plan eventually shifted. “We had to make our decision,” he said. “So, we decided we would do the resort and complete renovations on it and go forward ourselves.” Now, the site includes a floating lodge with guest accommodations, four cabins, and a range of wellness amenities such as hot tubs, a sauna, massage services and a cold-water bathing pool. A newly developed longhouse and outdoor gathering space will host cultural programming, including song, dance and storytelling. Maquinna said guests will be offered a chance to experience Ahousaht traditions firsthand. “It’s to immerse our guests into culture and to share some of the experiences that we have,” he said. Food will also play a central role in that experience. One of the cultural offerings includes salmon prepared over an open fire using alder wood, in a traditional method Maquinna says predates European contact. “When you’re cooking fish, you’re putting it on the barbecue… starting with the backside of the fish and then turning it over to the front,” he said. “When it starts dripping, then we know it’s ready.” He said the taste and preparation are unlike anything offered in local restaurants. “Nobody in Tofino is doing that,” he said. The resort will also serve bannock, and other traditional-style foods alongside locally harvested seafood sourced directly from Ahousaht fishers. “It’s coming right from our backyard, right from our fishermen,” he said, referring to fish, crab and other seafood. The project also includes a strong employment focus, with roles in hospitality, guiding, boating and cultural programming expected to support community members. Maquinna said the Nation is working toward building economic independence and training local workers in new fields. “We were self-sufficient prior to European contact,” he said. “This is where our goal is, to provide jobs for our people.” The resort is accessed by a short, sheltered boat ride from Tofino, about 25 minutes through protected waters. Maquinna said the Nation will begin by welcoming community members, including elders and singers, as part of the opening period. For him, the project is both practical and symbolic. “We’re bringing our people in, recognizing them, and giving them a place to experience it,” he said. As the first guests arrive this July, he said the goal is simple: to share Ahousaht culture, create opportunity, and move forward on the Nation’s own terms.
