Alert Bay is home base for the 'Namgis First Nation people. After a ferry ride from Port McNeil, we walked on a boardwalk along the short main street. Stopped for a burger and BLT for lunch. Then walked a mile in the opposite direction to the U'mista Cultural Center. One of the highlights
includes a time line showing prize artwork removed/taken to the 1893 Chicago World Exhibition, the Smithsonian, the NY Museum of American Indian Art, and private collections, and then being returned to the U'mista Cultural Center for its opening in 1980. Fabulous masks, button
blankets, talking sticks, potlatch coppers, and historic photographs are shared with visitors. The gift shop had native art work for sale, as well as lots of clothing, napkins, jewelry, postcards and so forth. We walked back to the ferry dock, where we were whisked away on one of their new
ferries back to Port McNeil. Although the weather was scattered showers, Sue noticed the sun predominated over the island of Alert Bay. Maybe that's why this First Nation people chose the island for their home baseA