The northeast beach is the site of a former Tseshaht village, and there is a large cultural shell midden extending approximately 985 feet (300 m) along the shoreline.

The Tseshaht people used Ts'ishaa as a home village as they followed sea mammals, salmon and other food and natural resources throughout Barkley Sound as the seasons changed.

[3] In 1791 the Spanish Ship Santa Saturnina entered Barkley Sound, marking the first European contact with the indigenous people living in the area.

Over the next 100 years the Tseshaht and other First Nations in the area suffered enormous population declines, primarily from diseases such as smallpox that were brought by the European explorers.

[8] In 2009 Parks Canada and the Tseshaht First Nation reached an agreement to prohibit all camping on the island due to its cultural significance.