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The Province
22-07-2025
- Science
- The Province
Smallpox, overfishing, industrialization destroyed 88% of harvestable food sources in Burrard Inlet: Study
Tsleil-Waututh's Michelle George called the study "scientific proof of what my ancestors and family have been saying for generations.' Michelle and Michael George stand on a beach across from the Westridge Terminal in Burrard Inlet. The cultural and technical specialists with the Tsleil-Watuth Nation co-wrote a report with the University of B.C. highlighting biodiversity loss in the Inlet caused by overfishing and industrialization. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG A first-of-its-kind study from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the University of B.C. estimates that smallpox, overfishing and industrialization brought by settlers in the 18th century destroyed 88 per cent of harvestable food sources in the Burrard Inlet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The study used archeology, historical ecology, archival records, ecological data and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) knowledge to model the effects of colonial development on the amount of harvestable food in Burrard Inlet from 1750 to 1980. 'Burrard Inlet was a thriving ecosystem that had sustainable economics to feed the people, plus some, for thousands of years,' said Michelle George, cultural and technical specialist with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and co-author of the study. 'That has been pretty much devastated.' Two of the most dramatic impacts highlighted by the model were the impact of smallpox and commercial overfishing. The first wave of smallpox, which occurred in 1782, killed as much as 80 per cent of the Tsleil-Waututh community. Commercial fishing began around 1820, leading to severe overfishing that decimated many fish populations by the turn of the century. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Before the initial smallpox outbreak, the study's model showed decades of stable food sources, from salmon and herring to waterfowl, seals and bivalves, among dozens of others. Shortly after smallpox killed an estimated 8,000 of the estimated 10,000 Tsleil-Waututh living in the area at the time, salmon, waterfowl and other animal populations began to swing wildly. 'Having one thing missing from the food chain or one thing taken out, and you sort of see this collapse or continuous ripple effect throughout the food chain ecosystem, throughout our territory,' George said. 'Predator populations exploded and prey plummeted' immediately after the first smallpox outbreak, suggesting not enough Tsleil-Waututh people survived to effectively steward the environment, said Meaghan Efford, a post-doctoral research fellow at UBC and lead author of the study. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It shows how strong the relationship is between the Tsleil-Waututh and the ecosystem.' The second of the two major impacts was the introduction of commercial fishing in the 1880s, which decimated many species of fish and the predators that fed on them. 'My ancestors talk about walking on the backs of fish and having so much fish that boats couldn't pass,' George said. Efford said the archeological record from pre-colonial times suggests the inlet was an abundant food source. 'When you look at the archeological record, there are tens of thousands of salmon bones,' she said. And it wasn't just salmon. According to City of Vancouver Archives, Calvert Simson, who arrived at Burrard Inlet in 1884, told an interviewer in 1933 that herring in the inlet were so thick at the time that they could be caught with a rake. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'There were 'acres' of ducks in Coal Harbour, feeding on the herring,' he said. Herring populations were destroyed between 1880 and 1915, according to the study, which coincided with the rise of commercial fishing, including the opening of Spratt's Oilery in Coal Harbour in 1882. Spratt's processed herring oil for use as an industrial lubricant. Chum and pink salmon in the inlet fell by 40 to 50 per cent from 1750 to 1980, according to the study. Herring and salmon were pillars of traditional səl̓ilwətaɬ diets. Their loss from the Səl̓ilwət (Burrard Inlet) ecosystem is a loss to both səl̓ilwətaɬ lifestyles and food sovereignty, George said. 'There's a huge health gap and a huge health impact, because our people are not harvesting or eating traditional foods,' George said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The way that we went out and harvested foods, traditionally, there would have been cultural transmission' of traditional practices, stories and spiritual relevance to specific places and resources, George said. 'It's not just the environment and ecology, it's also the people,' she said. A recent project to restore elk, a traditional Tsleil-Waututh food source, to the Indian River Valley provides a striking example. 'Not too long ago, we brought elk back to the Indian River Valley, and then we started harvesting the elk and bringing it back to the community,' said Michael George, a cultural and technical specialist with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation — and also Michelle's father. 'Trying to get our caterers to cook with elk was difficult because they didn't know how to do it with such lean meat because they're accustomed to fattier beef,' he said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Spratt's Oilery in Coal Harbour, 1884, in a photograph taken by Maj. James Matthews. Photo by Vancouver Archives George said for her the study was scientific proof of 'what my ancestors and family have been saying for generations.' She hoped it would serve as a tool 'to prove that we know what we're doing' and ensure greater nation-to-nation consultation moving forward, especially in the face of the current push by provincial and federal governments to fast-track large-scale industrial projects. 'We've watched our inlets, our home be devastated for 150 years,' she said. 'And it's all been done without us. 'We're not anti-development,' George said. 'But how can you do this better? How can you do this greener? How can we do this so that there's something left for the future generations? 'We know what we're doing,' George said. 'We've known for generations.' Read More ngriffiths@ @njgriffiths Vancouver Canucks News News Sports News
Vancouver Sun
22-07-2025
- Science
- Vancouver Sun
Smallpox, overfishing, industrialization destroyed 88% of harvestable food sources in Burrard Inlet: Study
A first-of-its-kind study from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the University of B.C. estimates that smallpox, overfishing and industrialization brought by settlers in the 18th century destroyed 88 per cent of harvestable food sources in the Burrard Inlet. The study used archeology, historical ecology, archival records, ecological data and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) knowledge to model the effects of colonial development on the amount of harvestable food in Burrard Inlet from 1750 to 1980. 'Burrard Inlet was a thriving ecosystem that had sustainable economics to feed the people, plus some, for thousands of years,' said Michelle George, cultural and technical specialist with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and co-author of the study. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'That has been pretty much devastated.' Two of the most dramatic impacts highlighted by the model were the impact of smallpox and commercial overfishing. The first wave of smallpox, which occurred in 1782, killed as much as 80 per cent of the Tsleil-Waututh community. Commercial fishing began around 1820, leading to severe overfishing that decimated many fish populations by the turn of the century. Before the initial smallpox outbreak, the study's model showed decades of stable food sources, from salmon and herring to waterfowl, seals and bivalves, among dozens of others. Shortly after smallpox killed an estimated 8,000 of the estimated 10,000 Tsleil-Waututh living in the area at the time, salmon, waterfowl and other animal populations began to swing wildly. 'Having one thing missing from the food chain or one thing taken out, and you sort of see this collapse or continuous ripple effect throughout the food chain ecosystem, throughout our territory,' George said. 'Predator populations exploded and prey plummeted' immediately after the first smallpox outbreak, suggesting not enough Tsleil-Waututh people survived to effectively steward the environment, said Meaghan Efford, a post-doctoral research fellow at UBC and lead author of the study. 'It shows how strong the relationship is between the Tsleil-Waututh and the ecosystem.' The second of the two major impacts was the introduction of commercial fishing in the 1880s, which decimated many species of fish and the predators that fed on them. 'My ancestors talk about walking on the backs of fish and having so much fish that boats couldn't pass,' George said. Efford said the archeological record from pre-colonial times suggests the inlet was an abundant food source. 'When you look at the archeological record, there are tens of thousands of salmon bones,' she said. And it wasn't just salmon. According to City of Vancouver Archives , Calvert Simson, who arrived at Burrard Inlet in 1884, told an interviewer in 1933 that herring in the inlet were so thick at the time that they could be caught with a rake. 'There were 'acres' of ducks in Coal Harbour, feeding on the herring,' he said. Herring populations were destroyed between 1880 and 1915, according to the study, which coincided with the rise of commercial fishing, including the opening of Spratt's Oilery in Coal Harbour in 1882. Spratt's processed herring oil for use as an industrial lubricant. Chum and pink salmon in the inlet fell by 40 to 50 per cent from 1750 to 1980, according to the study. Herring and salmon were pillars of traditional səl̓ilwətaɬ diets. Their loss from the Səl̓ilwət (Burrard Inlet) ecosystem is a loss to both səl̓ilwətaɬ lifestyles and food sovereignty, George said. 'There's a huge health gap and a huge health impact, because our people are not harvesting or eating traditional foods,' George said. 'The way that we went out and harvested foods, traditionally, there would have been cultural transmission' of traditional practices, stories and spiritual relevance to specific places and resources, George said. 'It's not just the environment and ecology, it's also the people,' she said. A recent project to restore elk, a traditional Tsleil-Waututh food source, to the Indian River Valley provides a striking example. 'Not too long ago, we brought elk back to the Indian River Valley, and then we started harvesting the elk and bringing it back to the community,' said Michael George, a cultural and technical specialist with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation — and also Michelle's father. 'Trying to get our caterers to cook with elk was difficult because they didn't know how to do it with such lean meat because they're accustomed to fattier beef,' he said. George said for her the study was scientific proof of 'what my ancestors and family have been saying for generations.' She hoped it would serve as a tool 'to prove that we know what we're doing' and ensure greater nation-to-nation consultation moving forward, especially in the face of the current push by provincial and federal governments to fast-track large-scale industrial projects. 'We've watched our inlets, our home be devastated for 150 years,' she said. 'And it's all been done without us. 'We're not anti-development,' George said. 'But how can you do this better? How can you do this greener? How can we do this so that there's something left for the future generations? 'We know what we're doing,' George said. 'We've known for generations.' ngriffiths@ @njgriffiths
Global News
11-07-2025
- Global News
‘Who really is in charge of the waterways?': B.C. boy's death prompts call for change
The family of a 10-year-old boy who was struck and killed by a speedboat while being towed on an inner tube in Burrard Inlet off Cates Park in North Vancouver on June 7 said their lives are forever changed. 'It will never be easy,' mom Shelley Klassen told Global News. Dad Jason Hall said his son's death is something that no one can prepare for. 'It's the unthinkable,' he said. Another child was critically injured in the crash. Now, the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation is pitching to be part of a water guardianship program to help increase enforcement on the water. Hall said they are on board '100 per cent.' Story continues below advertisement 'Being a coastal metropolis, maybe we should pay attention to this,' he said. 'People are getting more vessels, people are getting bigger vessels… we need to make some changes.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Deanna George, a councillor with the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, said there is a lot of marine traffic on the waterways and following Hall's death, they want more of a presence. 'Reminding (boaters), educating them, basically putting a Tsleil-Waututh Nation face in our territory,' she told Global News. 'Get people to think logically or be more mindful of other people who are using these waters.' 1:57 Tragic speedboat crash that killed boy sparks calls for more enforcement off Cates Park George said the nation had already been in talks with other levels of government but Hall's death has highlighted a need for more collaboration and presence among different groups. Story continues below advertisement Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the fatal accident, North Vancouver RCMP said. The driver of the boat is expected in court in August. 'Guardians are an extension of First Nations self-determination, serving as their Nation's 'boots on the ground' and providing cultural expertise and stewardship, monitoring, public safety, education and knowledge exchange,' according to the provincial government. Klassen said that this accident is 'not for nothing.' 'We as a family don't want any other family to go through what we've just gone through and what we will continue to go through.' Klasses added that it is clear there is not enough authority on the water to monitor the boaters. 'We don't know who really is in charge of the waterways?' she said. 'And an organization, like the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, if they would like to come forth and start a program that is a presence on the water… we welcome the First Nations people in that area to come and do some amazing work.'
Hamilton Spectator
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Tsleil-Waututh Nation canoe festival returns to Whey-ah-Wichen/Cates Park
A canoe festival drawing in hundreds of people is returning to the North Shore. The səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) is holding their canoe festival at Whey-ah-Wichen/Cates Park July 4-6 in North Vancouver. Indigenous communities across B.C.'s southwest coast and Washington state compete in races and celebrating culture. Kevin O'Neill, who is part of the canoe festival committee, said he's feeling excited to have the festival for another year on home grounds, as the nation spends several months planning for the big event. 'What I like most is seeing all the community members come together to make sure the events go smoothly, but also connecting with all the neighbouring nations,' O'Neill said. 'Just to see how they're doing, to see what struggles they're going through, or why they choose to canoe race, because everyone can do this for a different reason.' Race categories include youth (10 and under, 13 and under and 16 and under), women's, men's and masters for 50 and older, according to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation's website. Rowers compete in traditional dugout style racing canoes, which are sleek, narrow and fast. The canoe festival can draw in as many as 600 people, O'Neill said. Because of the high turnout, O'Neill wants people to be cognizant of the limited parking at Whey-ah-Wichen, but there are locations nearby where people can park their vehicles. Canoe racing is deeply connected to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation community. Racing with canoes began in 1910 when former Chief George Sla-holt carved a canoe he named Earwigs, which shortly earned a reputation as a great racing vessel, according to the Nation's website . O'Neill has been attending the festival since he was a kid. He said the festival helps people connect with their culture. '[The festival] connects us to our culture more and it helps everyone heal in their own way,' he said. 'It's just like when you speak the language, that's when your ancestors can join you. Same thing when you're on the water in these canoes, that connects you with your ancestors.' Mekwalya (Zoe George) is one of the canoe paddlers participating in the festival through the Tsleil-Waututh Nation's Salish Serpent Canoe Club. She has been paddling with the canoe team for six years but has been doing the activity since she was 13 years old. For the festival, George said she has been training for about six months, practicing six days a week for an hour and a half. But there is a deeper element to paddling for George – helping her feel connected to the community. 'In our home community, Tsleil-Waututh, we're always taught to listen to our elders, and all of them have kept the traditions of canoeing alive and around us, and I understand why,' George said. 'So, when we're on the water and paddling together as a team, you just feel a part of something, and it's really special.' 'It's the one weekend of the whole year that we get really excited for,' she said. On top of watching the races, members of the public can check out food trucks during the weekend event. The festival will take place from Friday, July 4 to Sunday, July 6. Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sunrise ceremonies, cultural festivals, and community events across Canada mark the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day
Why is National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated? Live Events Prime Minister Mark Carney's statement Celebration across the country (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Songs and drumbeats echoed along the shoreline as the sun rose over the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday morning(June 22). About 40 people gathered near Louisbourg to take part in a Mi'kmaw sunrise ceremony, led by residential school survivor and Eskasoni First Nation Elder Lottie Johnson, marking the beginning of National Indigenous Peoples Day across Canada.'It's a very special time. It's quiet, and as the sun comes up, you see the creation of the creator,' Johnson said. 'Everything is so beautiful, and it's like almost-new again. That's where you get the hope and the will to go on.'The day, celebrated annually on June 21, the summer solstice, honors the history, cultures, and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. First recognized in 1996, the national event now includes hundreds of community-led gatherings and Indigenous Peoples Day was first proclaimed by the former Governor General, Roméo LeBlanc, in 1996. It is a statutory holiday in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, and is increasingly recognized as a vital part of Canada's broader journey toward truth and reconciliation Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement reaffirming the federal government's commitment to reconciliation as he said, 'Supporting Indigenous communities, advancing self-determination, implementing treaties, and creating generational wealth and prosperity are central to our commitment. The government will work in full partnership with Indigenous Peoples advancing shared priorities such as health care, food security, housing, education, economic prosperity, conservation, climate action and emergency management.'In Winnipeg, the Forks hosted the opening of Many Nations, One Heartbeat, an 11-day cultural festival featuring Indigenous music, fashion, games, and crafts. Organizers said the festival also honors communities displaced by ongoing wildfires in Vancouver, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation unveiled a six-metre house post by artist Zac George outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The city also hosted its third annual Downtown Eastside block party, transforming East Hastings Street into a celebration of Indigenous art, food, and North Slave Métis Alliance in Yellowknife served freshly caught whitefish from Great Slave Lake at a community fish fry, while in Whitehorse, residents enjoyed a jigging contest and bannock bake-off at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. Governor General Mary Simon of Ottawa welcomed youth to Rideau Hall, where they planted heart-shaped messages in a memorial 'heart garden' to honor victims and survivors of residential schools. 'Each heart is a symbol of our collective responsibility,' her office were also held in Toronto, Montreal, Saskatoon, Regina, St. John's, Charlottetown, and beyond, often featuring powwows, music, dancing, and traditional ceremonies.
