House of Huu-ay-aht nears completion

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A professional carpenter for the past 15 years, Herb Nelson looks at the House of Huu-ay-aht, the first bighouse constructed in Huu-ay-aht territory in more than 100 years, as one of his crowning achievements.

Adopted out as an infant, Nelson only recently discovered his Huu-ay-aht ancestry and has returned to Anacla, B.C. to work on the mountain-top structure that will serve as bighouse, gymnasium and community centre for Huu-ay-aht.

"It involved a lot of mathematical theory to put the poles in the right places," said Herb. "The top four logs each weigh around 30 tons so everything has to fit just right to hold the 108- and 118-foot long Spruce logs up there."

With everything on schedule for the official opening on July 15, Nelson and four other Huu-ay-aht members with a crew from Knappett Construction are working feverishly to have everything in place for the celebration.

"I've learned a lot from working on this one, and I think everyone else has too," said Herb. "Hopefully the next one can be all Huu-ay-aht built."

As the finishing work on the new House of Huu-ay-aht nears completion, the final fundraising push has been launched.

On June 14 the Huu-ay-aht First Nation left the lawns of the provincial legislature in Victoria for the Journey Home walk to Huu-ay-aht to raise additional funds for the bighouse construction.

The 301-km, week-long walk, run and bike will go through Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, and Port Alberni before taking the 100 km dusty road to Anacla for the June 21 National Aboriginal Day celebrations at the Pachena Bay campground.

According to Huu-ay-aht fundraising co-ordinator Molly Clappis, organizers are hoping to raise $50,000 over the next month through bake sales, garage sales, auctions, bottle drives, and the Journey Home walk.

As of June 1, more than 25 people were signed up to walk the entire distance, including two-year-old Ayanna Clappis along with mom Crystal. Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor Robert Dennis and his family were also planning to go the distance.