Wickaninnish

Wickaninnish (/ˌwɪkəˈnɪnɪʃ/)(Meaning -"Nobody sits or stands before him in the canoe" was a chief of the Tla-o-qui-aht people of Clayoquot Sound in the 1780s and 1790s, at present-day Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, during the opening period of European contact with the Pacific Northwest Coast cultures. His main name is also transliterated Wickaninish, Wickananish, Wikinanish, Huiquinanichi, Quiquinanis, and he was also known as Hiyoua.

Wickaninnish was a rival of the Mowachaht chief Maquinna of Nootka Sound, although the two were related both affinally and consanguineally.[1] In one account he was blamed for the death of Maquinna's brother, Callicum, an event which spurred a war by the Mowachaht against the Tla-o-qui-aht. Maquinna's captive John R. Jewitt wrote of Wickaninnish.

Wickaninnish took umbrage at behaviour by American Capt. Jonathan Thorn, who was leading a voyage on the Pacific Fur Company's frigate Tonquin in June 1811, and had made overtures for trading. This resulted in the Battle of Woody Point, the Tla-o-qui-aht massacre of Thorn and most of the Tonquin crew. As the Tla-o-qui-aht plundered the vessel, a surviving crew member blew it up.[2][3]

Wickaninnish's name is preserved in the name of Wickaninnish Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Wickaninnish Island,[4] and Wickaninnish Bay,[5] and the Wickaninnish Inn.[6] a surfside hotel, restaurant, and spa on Chesterman Beach, close to Long Beach.