Tofino carver awaits apology from government

Long awaited apologies are becoming the topic du jour, as another tale makes its way to the forefront. On the West Coast of Vancouver Island lies a village named Tofino, and a story over 100 years old.
Tim Paul is a well-known carver there and his latest project maybe the most meaningful to date.
On July 14, at Tofino's annual Westcoast Maritime Festival, Paul unveiled a 6.5-meter tall totem paying tribute to his ancestor, John Anietsachist who he claims was wrongly convicted, and hanged 139 years ago.
In the year 1869, family and band members watched their men get hanged from makeshift gallows; John Aniesachist was one of those men.
Earlier that year, a Victoria court found the condemned guilty of murder when a man and a woman were found deceased and ashore near Estevan Point during the winter after their ship, the John Bright, wrecked.
History shows that this occurred during an era when First Nations often were targeted for punishment and received a severe lack of fair and due process. Local newspapers began reporting claims of decapitated victims, and an Indian massacre.
It is documented that the doctor involved with the inquest found no evidence the bodies had been decapitated, and their mutilated bodies could have been the work of wild animals.
Paul firmly believes Aniesachist was wronged and feels his ancestor deserves an apology.
"We look forward to bringing this forward in a way that highlights injustice."
And Paul is not alone in his quest, as he enlisted the help of David Griffiths, executive director of Tofino's Tonquin Foundation.
The Tonquin Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and interpretation of the maritime heritage of the Westcoast.
"It's an example of how the past, at one time, was a real gunboat frontier," Griffiths explains.
He feels that some very in-depth research, particularly in the trials and transcripts should be done, as it appears the trial was a sham. Griffiths expressed that this was an opportunity for more than an apology, perhaps even reconciliation.
"The past is the past. Those things happened, but in some way in spotlighting this incident, it may foster some better cross cultural understanding and respect."
The Tonquin foundation, back in 2005, played a major role in an apology between a local First Nation and the descendants of a U.S fur trader who burned their village.
Getting this apology will be no small task. Paul recently approached a local politician, NDP MLA Scott Fraser.
"The nuts and bolts of trying to get an apology is going to be difficult. The house has stopped sitting, we are less than a year to an election, and all indications show that the government is going to try and avoid even going back for a fall sitting," Fraser explained. As a member of the opposition, he expresses it may be a while before anything gets done.
"We may not get another chance in the legislature to raise this, and for me that is the most effective way to get something like this done. So the Liberal government has taken that tool away from us."
Fraser worries they may have to look for alternative ways to get the apology, but remains optimistic.
"I believe it's clear they're within justice, and I think it's important we do see an apology. Not just for Tim and his family, it's an important piece of reconciliation and recognition of the dark stain on our past."
The 150th anniversary of British Columbia's founding offers a perfect opportunity for reflection. Paul emphasizes he is not angry-he just wants to educate people about "our history."
With the Tonquin Foundation helping to facilitate the effort, along with MLA Scott Fraser pressuring the government, perhaps Paul won't have to wait as long as John Anietsachist himself had to wait. Griffiths weigh's in on retroactive apologies and believes that they seem common leaders.
"I think they're becoming more common, particularly with Prime Minister Harper's recent apology of the residential schools. I think anything that helps heal wounds of the past is worthwhile."