Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation
Howonquet is the English version of the Taa-laa-wa word Xaa-wan’-k’wvt, which means “along there upon-it.” It’s the name of our largest ancestral village - one of many within our territory - set within the ecologically rich area where the Smith River meets the Pacific Ocean.
Located near the Tolowa People’s revered place of origin, Xaa-wan’-k’wvt holds a deep and profound place in Tolowa identity. It was a major municipality where tribal leaders discussed and decided important issues, and it served as a gathering place for food, housing and worship. Tolowa ancestors occupied the site since time immemorial prior to the arrival of the first Euro-Americans. Sadly, many of these villages were destroyed and their inhabitants killed by state-funded militias in the 1850s.
Today, it is the site of the Xaa-wan’-k’wvt Village & Resort (XVR), which is currently undergoing massive redevelopment and will eventually feature ecologically friendly lodging, trails and interpretive signage.
Learn to speak Tolowa using our online app: https://tolowa.netlify.app/#/