WEST COAST WAY OF LIFE
The west coast of Vancouver Island is one hell of a place. It’s cold, it’s harsh, it’s dangerous, and it will beat you down if you’re not aware of the surroundings. But I consider myself lucky enough to be born and raised here.
My name is James Martin and I come from the First Nations, which is part of a bigger group called . Formerly known by Europeans as Nootka, we were the first group of First Nations on the west coast to come in contact with non-natives, headed by Captain Cook. The is actually made up of fourteen different tribes that live between Port Renfrew and the western tip of Brooks Peninsula, a distance spanning, or traditional territory. My roots are planted deep here – I can trace my family’s lineage in the area back over 5000 years.
