TOFINO SIGN
As you read the following, please keep in mind that I am an ignorant outsider who lacks knowledge of the historical and cultural context necessary to accurately interpret.
"Tla-O-Qui-Aht" refers to the local First Nations (what we from the U.S. would call "Indian" or "Native") Tribe which is commonly (and apparently incorrectly?) called the Clayoquot Tribe. I think that Haahuulthii probably does not have a "neat and complete" English equivalent term, but it seems to refer to both domain and responsibility, denoting that this is the area of the Tla-O-Qui-Aht Tribe, which will be held accountable by the Creator for making sure that the area is treated with respect and reverence in perpetuity. The leaders, whom we of European descent may call "Chiefs," are the Hawiih, and are personally responsible for keeping all actions in the spirit of Haahuulthii. Please, if there are any folks reading this who have a better, more accurate and complete understanding of this, comment below.
While I suspect that there is considerable loss in translation, according to Wikipedia, Tla-O-Qui-Aht means "People who are different from how they once were."
For those of you who are students of the history of the John Jacob Astor financial empire and the first attempts of United States folks to set up trade in this area, this tribe was involved in the Tonquin incident of 1811 (pronounced the same way, but not to be confused with the Gulf of Tonkin incident on the other side of the world in 1964).
