Chief Maquinna, born in the 1760s, became famous among the
European and American captains because of his ongoing contact
with visiting ships. He was a leader in his community, a Ha’wil,
before contact with traders and explorers. When the ships
started to come to the summer village at Yuquot, Nootka Sound,
he skillfully encouraged trade, increasing prosperity and
elevating the place of his people in the region. He arranged
trade in goods from his village and acted as a middleman for
trade items coming from communities located further away from
the ports favoured by the large ships. More time was spent in
Yuquot as it was more popular with visitors than their winter
village of Tahsis. The amplified ability of Maquinna and the
Mowachaht people to hold potlatches to display their wealth and
power and to stand up to rivals changed the political structures
of the Nuu-chah-nulth on western Vancouver Island. Maquinna
focused on increasing the area under his control, and in a
political move, he married the daughter of