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Alert Bay (approx. 550 people - 2007) is a community on Cormorant Island, British Columbia, Canada. Cormorant Island consists primarily of the village of Alert Bay. It is a short ferry ride from Port McNeil on Vancouver Island. The village is in Kwakwaka'wakw territory. In an effort to stop the potlatch under Section 116 of the Indian Act, the Federal Government pillaged the community of such items as wooden masks, copper shields, and potlatch-dance regalia, some of which were later placed in the U'mista Cultural Centre in the village. During the 70s and 80s, the population regained their possessions after long negotiations. The artifacts housed in the cultural centre were given back to the village population as well as items stored in other museums.