the reserves of ahousaht, and of neighboring coastal nations, are relatively small in size to the numbers of the population. it is believed that the reserve designations were tiny because the members of the ahousaht nation, at the time of contact, relied very heavily on oceanic resources as a main staple of dietary and other needs. the ocean was considered to be "the garden" of the people; hence, it was presumed that little land-base was needed to fulfill the ongoing needs of the people.