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ALL ALONG THE MOUNTAINS & SEA
August 2010
Tara Atleo Takes a Walk on the Wild Side Trail
Tara Atleo — New Ahousaht Ahp-cii-uk Coordinator
The new Ahp-cii-uk Ahousaht local coordinator is Tara Atleo, the 21-year-old daughter of Shawn Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Tara grew up in Vancouver, visiting her home and relatives in Ahousaht on holidays and special occasions. “I love being in Ahousaht,” she said. “It’s my ideal summer location.”
Tara came back to Ahousaht over the summer to be the Wild Side Trail manager and to work for Ahp-cii-uk. She considers the position as part of her education and a way to learn more about her culture. “Being more connected to the territory and learning the culture is important to me,” she said. “Grandpa Sam, who wrote the Wild Side book, is coming in and talking to me about the trail. It’s a big part of our history, that trail.”
Over the next month, Tara will oversee the continuing development of the Wild Side office. Part of the job will be planning for the following year. “We are hoping people will sprout out tourism ideas from here,” says Tara. To help that happen, Tara and the Ahp-cii-uk working group are hoping to create a permanent office/visitor’s centre for the trail, find funding for a trail crew and office staff for next year, and get marketing and promotions started now for the following tourist season.
In September Tara will continue her university studies in Nanaimo where she is finishing her third year of a bachelor’s degree in business. Tara is concentrating her degree on sustainable economics in traditional territories. She hopes to be able to continue her work as the Wild Side manager until the end of September, and keep working as the Ahp-cii-uk local coordinator afterwards.
Ahousaht Work Crew Takes the Trail to the Next Level
In Ahousaht, staff are continuing to create a world premier trail on Flores Island, and market it to keen hikers and kayakers all over the world. Students Beau Campbell and Lorne Little have been clearing new sections of the trail along with Milton Sam and supervisor Trevor Titian. In August the crew was renovating the “Trail of Tears” by clearing brush, repairing boardwalks, picking up garbage and marking the trail properly.
Adrienne Dick is working with Tara Atleo in the Wild Side office to start marketing the trail and coordinating visits and work. Adrienne’s initiative and experience in the tourism industry make her invaluable to giving the trail greater exposure. While the students return to school at the end of August, Adrienne, Milton and Trevor will work until mid October planning and preparing for the next year’s tourist season.
A Wild Side office is buzzing with activity, in spite of the fact that Telus hasn't been to Ahousaht in 6 weeks and phone service is a challenge. For the time being, Tara is able to get reception on her cell phone out the office window. Everyone in the community knows the office is up and running and boats call to let people know that hikers are coming. There are maps in the office and Tara has copies of the Ahousaht Wild Side Heritage Trail Guidebook by Stanley Sam Sr. Most people, especially backpackers, are happy to pay and support the trail. Kayakers and day hikers are more reluctant to pay but are more willing when it is described what the money is going towards.
Two of the staff positions were funded by the Work Opportunities Program, and two got partial funding from Mountain Equipment Co-op and the Canada Summer Jobs Program. Francis Bruhwiler, a ranger with BC Parks, has been back to provide technical help, and Joanne Neilson from the BC Conservation Foundation has been instrumental in getting funding and planning the work.
Visit the Wild Side website at: