CONSERVATION
Sea gardens were once prevalent along North American coastlines, created and tended to by indigenous people. Using ancient practices, such as substantial walls made from rocks or oyster shells, they transformed the coastline into sustainable sources of seafood. A new initiative between the Coast Salish people of Canada and National Parks concervation agency Parks Canada is poised to bring the tradition back on the Pacific Northwest coastline. Erich Kelch, manager of the Sea Garden
Restoration Project at Parks Canada, explains that his association, in partnership with the Coast Salish-affiliated Cowichan Nation Alliance and WSÁNEĆ Nations, began working the land once more at four coastal sites in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve in 2021. It’s not without its challenges. Historically,
indigenous peoples’ connection to their traditional lands in this region has been disregarded, and, in post-contact years, those who lived on what are now British Columbia’s Gulf Islands were decimated by disease, assimilation policies and denial of land rights. One of the first steps is designating the areas for re-establishing these sea gardens.
S E A GARDE N RE S TOR AT ION, B R I T I SH COLUMB I A , CANADA The beaches on Salt Spring Island and Russell
Island have evidence of rock walls, while those on Cabbage and Saturna Islands don’t. Erich explains that it’s important not to assume that only the beaches that show evidence of human activity are the ones tended by First Nation. “A sea garden is many things,” he says. “The
key thing to think about is that the Nations modified different beaches at different places for many different reasons, depending on what they wanted to help flourish and grow, and depending on the individual culture of the people. Some beaches were so productive they didn’t actually need a wall. What we call a sea garden is a beach that was tended and taken care of to make more productive and where a relationship to the land was cultivated.” Coast Salish people modify beaches using
traditional practices such as removing kelp and sea lettuce and turning and loosening the sand with specialised tools. If rock walls were built, they’d be on a sloped beach close to the low tide mark to trap clams, mussels, kelp and fish in the shallows as the tide retreated. A ‘knowledge keeper’ from the Coast Salish community has also
shared with Erich that walls create an abundant intertidal ecosystem with nutrients swept in and trapped in the grooves and cracks of the wall. At these sites of historical importance, elders
are able to reconnect with traditional aspects of ecology and culture. Tended sea gardens are also a classroom for First Nations youth, and it’s hoped that in the future the clams will be a sustainable food source. While the programme targets engagement with
indigenous communities, the responsibility for caring for these places sits with all of humanity. Erich wraps up by advocating for restoring a permanent connection to the land. “For me, the inspiring message of the project is a shiſt in world view, where people can be seen to be caretakers of the environment, and that it’s possible for human involvement to make a place better,” he says.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Taking place between April and November, volunteers are bought in by boat for ecological restoration activities. For more information on how to volunteer, or to contact Parks Canada directly, visit
parks.canada.ca
View of the Salish Sea’s rugged coast from East Sooke, British Columbia PREVIOUS PAGE: Marine turtles swimming in Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. RIGHT: Workers tending to oyster cages; Conwy Harbour in North Wales
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nationalgeographic.com/collection
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