the hupacasath first nations traditional territory is very grand compared to other nuu-chah-nulth first nations. the territory is approximately 229,000 hectares, which engulfs the whole alberni valley. the boundaries for this territory are basically the mountain peaks from the alberni valley, which start from the north at mt. chief frank, from the south at 5040 peak and hannah mountain, from the east at mt. arrowsmith and mt spencer, and from the west from big interior mountain. this territory contains some of the most valuable forest, fish and marine resources in the world. the winds formed by the warm offshore currents of the pacific ocean create a tepid maritime climate with a summer dry period. this creates vast forests of western red cedar, yellow cedar, douglas fir, hemlock and balsam. the lakes and rivers contain all five species of pacific salmon as well as steelhead and trout.