Men pay tribute to motherhood



Men pay tribute to motherhood

Page 5

Ahousaht men once again outdid themselves in their tribute to the women of their Nation. From young moms-to-be to the eldest great-great-grandmother, each woman was treated as royalty on their special day-Mother's Day.

In what has become an annual tradition, the men of Ahousaht wake early in the morning of Mother's day to fish, crab, pick ha-ish-tup, tuts-up, barnacles, mussels and dig clams.

Upon their return to the community, the men gather together to cook the seafood feast for their treasured women. Some gather on the old ball field on the front beach to set up tables and chairs. When the preparations are complete a call goes over the VHF radio inviting Ahousaht women to the Mother's Day luncheon.

It was a beautiful, sunny May day when women took seats on the field. The men, ranging from young sons wanting to honor their beloved mothers to great-grandfathers wanting to show respect to the women who had brought generations of love and happiness, pampered the ladies with the feast they prepared.

With great pride they filled plates of seafood and delivered them to each woman. The women themselves were filled with great anticipation of this day. Some who couldn't make it to the event were heard on the VHF, "Save some ha-ish-tup for me!"

The men topped off their feast with chamus, fruit and cake.

I took pleasure in watching a baby girl, Shakyla, digging into a cake with her mother, Melissa. I thought, one day in the not-too-distant future, Shakyla will be sitting on the field with her own child to be honored by the men of her community.