The oral history of the Tseshaht people, part of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth culture of western British Columbia, identifies Ts'ishaa (C'isaa) (Benson Island) as the place where Kapkimyis, a supernatural being in their tradition, created the first Tseshaht man and woman.
There are several versions of the story about this event.
The following is taken from two current versions as told by the Tseshaht people:
A girl called Nasayilim ("Sky Day") was awakened to see two people ‒ an old man and a shaman.
The old man cut his left side, and the shaman collected the blood that flowed from the wound.
He blew on it, creating what we call ts'chsy'a'pi, the "life pulse".
From this a boy named Naasiya'atu ("Day Down"), also known as Ch'ichu'?atH, was created.
The boy and the girl grew up and had many children.
Thus many were descended from the two.
The Chief in the Sky made an island, high and dry, called Ts'isha' for the people to live.
The boy was given a war club with blood along the edge and told to keep it on the beach so the tribe would never die.

The significance of C'isaa (Ts'ishaa) to the Tseshaht people is indicated by their very name: "Tseshaht" means "people of Ts'ishaa".

Archeological evidence shows the site at C'isaa was first occupied over 5,000 years ago, and Tseshaht oral history tells of continuing occupation of the site until after European contact.
The Tseshaht people used Ts'ishaa as a home village as they followed sea mammals, salmon and other food and natural resources throughout Barkley Sound as the seasons changed.
The oral history of the Tseshaht people, part of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth culture of western British Columbia, identifies Ts'ishaa (C'isaa) (Benson Island) as the place where Kapkimyis, a supernatural being in their tradition, created the first Tseshaht man and woman. There are several versions of the story about this event. The following is taken from two current versions as told by the Tseshaht people:
A girl called Nasayilim ("Sky Day") was awakened to see two people ‒ an old man and a shaman. The old man cut his left side, and the shaman collected the blood that flowed from the wound. He blew on it, creating what we call ts'chsy'a'pi, the "life pulse". From this a boy named Naasiya'atu ("Day Down"), also known as Ch'ichu'?atH, was created. The boy and the girl grew up and had many children. Thus many were descended from the two. The Chief in the Sky made an island, high and dry, called Ts'isha' for the people to live. The boy was given a war club with blood along the edge and told to keep it on the beach so the tribe would never die.
The significance of C'isaa (Ts'ishaa) to the Tseshaht people is indicated by their very name: "Tseshaht" means "people of Ts'ishaa".
Archeological evidence shows the site at C'isaa was first occupied over 5,000 years ago, and Tseshaht oral history tells of continuing occupation of the site until after European contact. The Tseshaht people used Ts'ishaa as a home village as they followed sea mammals, salmon and other food and natural resources throughout Barkley Sound as the seasons changed.
Benson Island, British Columbia