With our traditional territories on the Salish Sea, Coast Salish peoples have relied on the abundance of fish in our waters for thousands of years. While salmon may perhaps be the most prized catch there are also many types of bottom-feeding fish which were also harvested including ‘eeyt - the lingcod.

The Coast Salish people have been harvesting clams for thousands of years as a vital part of their diet and cultural practices. From raw to boiled, baked, steamed and dried, clams have been enjoyed for generations.

We honor the youth from nine Indigenous nations who participated in the Respecting the Harvest program to learn traditional teachings on hunting and food sovereignty. Not only did they learn firearm safety and shooting skills, but were able to build meaningful connections and form lifelong friendships.

The plant is widely used by many Indigenous peoples as it has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of ailments. It has medicinal, practical, ceremonial and spiritual uses in Coastal First Nation groups. The many medicinal purposes of this plant vary among cultural groups, though most traditional medicines utilize the roots, and green inner bark of the branch or stalk.

In the past during spawn season, herring were pulled from the water with baskets, dip nets, spears and long-handed rakes. Some people also used stone or wood fish traps on the intertidal areas of beaches to trap fish on the declining tide.