Canoe Carver Joe Martin

November 5th, 2019

Joe Martin, also known by his traditional name, Tutakwisnapšiƛ, grew up learning to be a canoe carver. Joe is a Nuuchahnulth man who learned to carve from his father, and alongside his brothers. The following describes some of what Joe shared with me about canoe carving and Nuuchahnulth canoes. …


The Honest Work of a Canoe Guide – Thomas Zarelli

April 10th, 2019

No matter how you start your day, we all start by putting our foot through a pant leg one at a time. Not at T’ashii. At T’ashii Paddle School those pant legs change day to day. One day you’ll be putting on regular jeans or shorts because it’s sunny …


Paddle with the Experts on the Dug-Out Canoe: Naturalist Ian Cruickshank & Local Nuu-chah-nulth guide

June 19th, 2017

T’ashii Paddle School is partnering with Naturalist Ian Cruickshank for a few special tours in a traditional dugout cedar canoe! Join us on one of these tours which includes two guides; One Nuu-chah-nulth guide to share about local First Nations culture & history, & one Naturalist guide who is …


Nuuchanulth Canoe Guide

June 26th, 2016

Observations of a canoe guide and guide trainer. Guiding tours by canoe helped shape my young adult life. In this position I developed leadership skills, public speaking skills, facilitation, and much more. Now, as a canoe guide trainer and co-owner of a cultural canoe tour company I get to …


New word, new canoe

August 22nd, 2015

In canoe Evan Tourchie of Yuuthluithaht. Photo from Melody Charlie of Melody Charlie photography Living Nuu chah nulth language and culture. *please note: the Nuuchahnulth language has unique sounds that couldn’t be spelled properly  here because of font non-transferability I am at an Esowista home, sitting around with my …


A special tour

July 28th, 2015

T’ashii Paddle School offers cultural canoe tours in the Tofino area. These are guided tours within Nuuchahnulth territories from an indigenous perspective. The special thing about this is that you get to go out with a guide who is Nuuchahnulth into the Clayoquot Sound area and learn from and …


What is our logo? the Nacha

May 31st, 2015

T’ashii is a trail or path on land or on water. We chose the Nacha as our logo at T’ashii Paddle School. The Nacha is the tail feathers of a cixwatin (Bald Eagle). The Nacha is used for keeping the rhythm with each other in drumming and singing circles …


Nuuchahnulth Whale Hunt Tradition

February 25th, 2015

by: Tsimka Martin From time immemorial until the early 1900s, my Nuuchahnulth  ancestors were in the practice of hunting whales from canoes. The whale hunt is one that was central to our culture. The respect for, and the importance of the whale continues to be visible, in our songs, …


Canoe Tours this week

July 2nd, 2014

July brings great paddling weather in Tofino Calm weather has arrived on the west coast. This makes for amazing canoeing weather for Tofino. We have daily canoe tours for the big tree trail! Located on Meares Island the big tree trail is a popular spot in Tofino. Our 4 …


Nuu-chah-nulth canoe

June 25th, 2014

Nuu-chah-nulth canoes are alive on the west coast. The Nuuchahnulth Canoe The significance of the traditional dugout canoe is such that it has become a symbol of  Nuuchahnulth culture and pride. It is the vehicle which Nuuchahnulth accessed their territories from in former times. A resurgence of canoe travel culture …


Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks

August 15th, 2013

Tribal Parks is a Tla-o-qui-aht initiative to re-enliven management and stewardship of Tla-o-qui-aht territory with traditional values. The values are depicted in the totem poles of Tla-o-qui-aht people. “Hupath” or the sun, as a great giver of life, is a very important crest. Tla-o-qui-aht uses this crest on the top …


Tashii Paddle School – The most unique way to explore the coast.

November 13th, 2012

“T’ashii” meaning path on land or on water. Tashii Paddle School is a truly unique way to get out on the water and explore the area around Tofino (Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht, Nuuchanulth territories). What we offer: Traditional First Nation Canoeing  tours near Tofino, BC. This is an opportunity to …