For thousands of years the great ocean-going canoe sustained the cultural and spiritual traditions of coastal First Nations. Yet this century has seen the virtual disappearance of these sacred vessels. On June 27, 1993 twenty-one ocean-going canoes converged on Bella Bella's shores to participate in the historic week-long 'Qatuwas Festival--an unprecedented modern gathering of coastal First Nations to celebrate indigenous heritage and unity. Qatuwas documents the rebirth of the ocean-going canoe and celebrates the resurgence of Northwest Coast indigenous culture.