High winds keep us at the dock this morning which brings a request from Vic, the owner of the Copper Moon Cafe, a retired fishing boat moored to the dock that serves up wonderful burgers, local fish and baked goods. We help him move the two bbqs and in exchange we get coffee and cake and some wonderful stories.
Vic was born here, a member of the Hesquiat (hesh-quit) tribe. He moved away at age seven partly because the tidal wave from the Alaskan earthquake of 1964 washed away the family home. Decades later another man from the old village approached him. "I have something that may have belonged to your great grandfather." It turns out that the man had rummaged through Vic's family home when it washed ashore and pocketed a gold medal that he found. Wanting a clear conscience after all these years he gave it back to Vic. The gold medal was given to his great grandfather by the President of the United States for his "humane services to the ship Malleville.". The medal became a focal point in the family's effort to exonerate Vic's great great grandfather who was hung in 1869. This was in part a critical process for the family to reclaim heritage rights. WWW.nuuchahnulth.org/tribal-
Vic then went on to tell us of the day when he was a lad watching his dad bring the smileys (Chinook salmon) on board their fishing boat. His pant leg got hooked in the gear and by the time his dad disengaged the gears his pants had been torn from his body. He wished on that day that he had listened when he was told that he really should wear underwear.
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