Alert Bay BC (Cormorant Island Canada)

Alert Bay BC is cruise port and village on Cormorant Island (BC Canada) with population around 1500. Over 1/2 of the residents are First Nations (indigenous) people. Two Indian Reserves take up the rest Cormorant Island - Alert Bay 1 (eastern part) and Alert Bay 1A (western part).

Alert Bay has museums, drug and alcohol rehab center, hospital, dental clinic, post office, drugstore, grocery store, 3 restaurants, pub, retail shops, liquor store. The town is served by Alert Bay Airport and Alert Bay Water Aerodrome. There is also a harbour marina (for yachts and boats) and BC Ferries terminal with regularly scheduled ferry service to British Columbia's Port McNeill (Vancouver Island) and Sointula (Malcolm Island). Alert Bay also has a campground and ecological park with a cedar swamp and old-growth trees. In Alert Bay is also world's tallest totem pole.

In 1921, Canada's Government, in an effort to cease the potlatch custom of song, dance and wealth distribution under 116th Section of Indian Act, confiscated plenty of items including copper shields, dance regalia and wooden masks. During the 1970s-1980s, the Kwakwakawakw Indians regained their possessions after hard negotiations. The returned artifacts are now displayed at Umista Cultural Centre (museum).