Buk'was

Legends have existed in the folklore of Canada's Indigenous people for hundreds of years. Recent events and tragic endings may have led to first contact with the elusive being of the BC west coast rainforest. Anthropological research carried out in the late 19th century and recent archaeological evidence indicate that the ancestors of the Kwak'waka'wakw people have inhabited Blunden Harbour for approximately 8000 years.

Kwak'waka'wakw legends spoke of two forest dwellers: the Wild Woman of the Woods, Dzu'nuk'wa (Tso'no'kwa), a giant, powerful, and fearsome figure twice the size of humans. From Northwest Coast Legend, she is a dark and hairy ogress with supernatural powers. Her almost blind eyes are also large and sunken, but sometimes they have a red glow. She is usually portrayed making her wild call ("Uh, huu, uu, uu") with her open mouth and thick, red, puckered lips.

The second is Buk'was, the king of the ghosts; he is a small spirit being whose face looks emaciated like a skeleton but has a long, curving nose. He haunts the forests and tries to bring the living over to the world of the dead. In some myths, Buk'was is the husband of Dzu'nuk'wa. The ancient 'Nakwaxda'xw village of Blunden Harbour is a popular stop for kayakers; its hidden harbour and sandy shore make it a perfect retreat for ocean-weary adventurers.

Blunden Harbour is located on the northwest coast of BC, 16 nautical miles due east by water from the town of Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. The 'Nakwaxda'xw village is only accessible by water and has been inhabited for thousands of years due to its protected Harbour and abundant resources close by.

This was a thriving community of several hundred people that eventually relocated to the townsite of Port Hardy in the summer of 1964; the Village site has never really been abandoned, and the descendants of the 'Nakwaxda'xw people still visit the area for its abundant resources and ceremonial purposes.