Description
Ditidaht (meaning “people along the way” or “people along the coast” in their language) is a Nuu-chah-nulth nation residing on the west coast of Vancouver Island. At present, the main permanently occupied Ditidaht village is situated in Malachan, a settlement that lies at the head of Nitinat Lake. As of October 2021, the federal government counts 775 registered members of the Ditidaht nation. In the late 18th century, the people now known as Ditidaht (“Nitinat”) were a loose alliance of a number of autonomous local groups living along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Warfare and disease resulted in greater unity among the surviving local groups as villages were raided, people were killed and some groups became extinct. Change in territories took place as groups disappeared or amalgamated with others in the 20th century.
Language
The Ditidaht speak Nitinaht or Ditidaht, which is considered distinct from the Nuu-chah-nulth language. The Ditidaht language is closely related to that of the Makah, who live across the Juan de Fuca Strait, and the Pacheedaht, who occupy territory southeast of the Ditidaht.
Culture
The Ditidaht were historically a fishing community. They fished for salmon, halibut and other local fish species, and hunted and foraged for other foods to supplement their diet. Like other Nuu-chah-nulth nations, the Ditidaht travelled by canoe and on foot to get to and from hunting and fishing sites. The chiefs who governed Ditidaht society (known as chaabat) held rights to the fish and other food resources found on their territory. Poaching and intruding on private property could result in death. In Ditidaht culture, families hold the rights to intangible property, called tupaat, which includes stories, songs, dances and other cultural practices. Tupaat is passed down through family lineages and is still presented at potlatches.