Cowichan Tribes members are restoring traditional clam beds and sea gardens on British Columbia's Gulf Islands, a practice that dates back thousands of years. The effort, led by the tribe's lands and natural resources department, aims to secure food sources and revive cultural knowledge. Participants like Crysta Charlie and chef‑educator Jared Qwustenuxun Williams are harvesting butter clams (s'axwa) while rebuilding historic rock walls.

800‑metre rock wall at Fulford Harbour becomes restoration centerpiece

Jacob Cook, the Sea Gardens Restoration Coordinator,oversees the rebuilding of an 800‑metre‑long retaining wall in Salt Spring Island's Fulford Harbour. the structure, first identified in aerial surveys of the 1970s, testifies to Coast Salish stewardship that predates even Egypt’s Great Pyramid, according to the tribe’s reports.

Seasonal red‑tide avoidance taught by biologist Tim Kulchyski

Tim Kulchyski and his son Simon comb the tidal mudflats, teaching participants how to recognize red‑tide cycles that can render shellfish unsafe. As the source notes,the chosen site remains unusually free of pollutants and biotoxins , making it a rare safe harvesting zone on BC’s South Coast.

From 15,000 in the 1850s to 5,500 today: a demographic rbeound fuels cultural revival

Historical records show the Cowichan Nation once numbered about 15,000 before smallpox decimated the population in 1861, leaving roughly 800 survivors by 1901. Today, around 5,500 members are driving a resurgence of language, food sovereignty, and healing, according to tribal data.

Partnership with WSÁNEC and Parks Canada anchors winter harvesting program

During summer, tribe members collaborate with the WSÁNEC Leadership Council and Parks Canada to reconstruct sea‑garden walls. in winter, the focus shifts to responsible harvesting, allowing community members like Ms. Charlie to practice traditional collection methods under guided supervision, as reported by the tribe.

Who controls the location of revived clam beds?

The Cowichan Tribes keep exact coordinates of their restored clam beds confidential to prevent overharvesting by the public,a precaution highlighted in the source. This secrecy underscores the delicate balance between cultural access and ecological protection.