download - WaveLength Paddling Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

From the Archipelago Winter Watch Speeding west through Fife Sound on steel-gray, calm water, I spotted what appeared to be a ‘Scotchman’—a brilliant orange float used as a fender to keep boats from rubbing themselves raw against docks. I veered towards this valuable bit of flotsam, but as I drew closer, it became clear the smooth pink globe was a pair of lungs! As the boat pulled abeam I could see intestines, stomach and the head of something dangling below. I kept going, thinking an orca might rise out of the depths to reclaim this high calorie, marine mammal snack. Drifting at a distance, I observed that all was still, so I scooped the carcass into my boat. There was just enough of the animal left to see it was a very large harbour porpoise, cut neatly in two. Typical of orca kills, the entrails had not been consumed and the blubber was stripped clean. For anyone studying marine mammals, this find held a wealth of information. The porpoise had been feeding on herring and was so old that its teeth were worn almost to the gum line. I took and packaged samples for various other researchers and gave it back to the scavengers in need of this rare, rich, December meal. The next day, a pod of transient orcas, perhaps the owners of the kill, came quietly through our area. They remained in stealth mode until they killed a harbour seal, and then called back and forth as the mother with youngsters was allowed sole ALWAYS ASK Photo: Wild BC spring salmon by Alexandra Morton © Wolf mask. access to the kill. Then they moved gently east, further into the inlets, to destinations unknown. ••• The dolphins have arrived in groups of hundreds, and this year there are lots of babies. It took over ten years for the mothers with young babies to come into the archipelago and now they are not only here, but allowing the babies to play with my boat. The little fellows rocket about with astonishing speed. Most days are too rough and stormy for me to join them, but it’s good to know they can make a living here again this winter. Their careless, noisy, fun-loving nature is evident as they race about, leaping in trios and quintets, but I know they are always on patrol for the whales that would eat them. And they are staging their play directly above the schools of pollock, herring and other fish species which sustain them. Their behaviour is not as random as it appears. Is it wild or farmed? Netcage salmon farming pollutes the environment and threatens the survival of wild salmon. Go Wild! Check out our new DINER’S GUIDE at www.GeorgiaStrait.org Georgia Strait Alliance: 250-753-3459 Alexandra Morton ••• The chum salmon or ‘dog’ salmon, as they are known by many First Nations, came home in spectacular abundance this year. These fish went to sea before the fish farms’ sea lice outbreak and thus were not affected, unlike the smaller pink salmon whose runs collapsed. These fish carried enough nutrients home to fill the stomachs of bears and make hibernation possible. Next year these salmon may not be as fortunate. ••• The verdict is in—the salmon farms have been found to be the most likely cause of the devastating sea lice epidemic which destroyed 98% of the pink salmon runs of the Broughton Archipelago. The salmon farmers have opted to take the low road and disregard the wise recommendation by senior fisheries scientists to fallow this entire archipelago. An extraordinary alliance of commercial fishers, sport fishers, First Nations communities, tourism operators, environmentalists, scientists, lawyers, writers, filmmakers, and radio talk show hosts are coalescing to prevent destruction of the pink salmon, which are a vital life force for our coastal ecosystem. In an effort to leave no stone unturned, my good friend Beatrice Smith from the nearby community of Kwicksutaineuk-Ah- Kwak-Ah-Mish, is guiding me in planning a healing ceremony for the last of the young pink salmon that will embark on their life’s journey this spring. “Make sure the fish farmers know they must come too,” Bea told me, wisely pointing out that healing needs all sides to come together. A timeless meld of love, pain, motherhood and leadership clads this woman as perfectly as the bark envelopes the cedar tree. She is solid ground for her community, which is trying to re-grow roots in a time of shifting quicksands. I will do what Bea tells me. Her wisdom is plain as the snow-frosted mountains which embrace these inlets. Her power is as pure as the glacier melt water. Everything must be done to allow life on this earth to continue in the face of near demonic greed. ❏ © Text and photo by Alexandra Morton (R.P.Bio). She is a marine mammal scientist and author in British Columbia’s Broughton Archipelago. Visit her website at www.raincoastresearch.org. 40 www.WaveLengthMagazine.com February/March 2003
Selwyn Gwaii Haanas, a Place of Living Culture THE HAIDA WATCHMEN PROGRAM Legends say that the role of the watchmen, symbolized by three human figures wearing high hats (often found perched on top of Haida poles) was to warn of the approach of an enemy or other important happenings. This is the symbol adopted by the Haida to represent the Haida Gwaii Watchmen Program. The Haida people recognize that natural and cultural elements cannot be separated, and that the protection of Gwaii Haanas (‘Islands of Beauty’) is essential to sustaining Haida culture. They initiated the Watchmen Program to protect culturally significant sites in the South Moresby region, now known as Gwaii Haanas. This vision is also reflected in the preamble of the Haida Constitution: “Our culture, our heritage is the child of respect and intimacy with the land and sea. Like the forests, the roots of our people are intertwined such that the greatest troubles cannot overcome us. We owe our existence to Haida Gwaii. On these islands, our ancestors lived and died, and here too we will make our homes until called away to join them in the great beyond. The living generation accepts the responsibility to insure that our heritage is passed on to following generations.” HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM In 1981, prior to Gwaii Haanas being designated a Haida Heritage Site and a National Park Reserve, the Skidegate Band Council and the Haida Nation responded to concerns about the potential for vandalism and other damage to old Haida village sites by initiating the Haida Gwaii Watchmen Program. This program began with several parties of one or two volunteers who used their own boats to travel to these sites, Chaatl Island Englefield Bay M o r e s b y I s l a n d C. Henry Tasu Sd 0 10 nm Gowgaia Bay Dolomite Narrows Sgan Gwaii (Anthony I) Skidegate Moresby Camp C St James Charlotte Channel Louise I Inlet Juan Perez Cumshewa Rose Hr Kunghit I Lawn Pt Skidegate Inlet Sandspit where they would camp for the summer season. These volunteers acted as guardians for sites at K’uuna ‘llnagaay (Skedans), T’anuu ‘llnagaay (Tanu), SGang Gwaay (Anthony Island/Ninstints), Hlk’yaah GaawGa (Windy Bay), Burnaby Narrows, and Gandll K’in Gwaayaay (Hotspring Island), protecting their natural and cultural heritage. At the same time, they presented visitors with a first-hand introduction to Haida culture by exposing them to Haida life and sharing their knowledge of the environs as well as stories, songs and dances associated with the sites. ➝ Inlet Ramsay I Sd Skincuttle Inlet Skidegate Village Lyell I House I Gandle K'in (Hotspring I) Burnaby I Rankine Is Carpenter Bay N Copper Is Map courtesy of Neil Frazer from his book, Boat Camping Haida Gwaii. See pag. 42. Put Our Skirts Between You and the Water ECLIPSE NYLON SPRAYSKIRT COMBINATION NEOPRENE & NYLON FULL NYLON WITH SLIP NOT® EDGE GUARD “We have been using Brooks sprayskirts and wetsuits on our rental fleet for over 10 years now. Our Brooks sprayskirts last and last and still look good.” –Bob Putnam, Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre Brooks Wetsuits Ltd. Toll Free 1-888-986-3441 Fax: (604) 986-3443 e-mail: info@brookspaddlegear.com www.brookspaddlegear.com February/March 2003 www.WaveLengthMagazine.com 41
Page 4 and 5: Editor Alan Wilson Assistant Editor
Page 6 and 7: Carl Martin and his nephew Francis
Page 8 and 9: Cultural Renaissance A cultural ren
Page 10 and 11: This archival photograph shows Hupa
Page 12 and 13: The Path of the Great Canoes Grizel
Page 14 and 15: Culturally Modified Trees Acultural
Page 16 and 17: First Nations Guiding First Nations
Page 18 and 19: of the beautiful Great Bear Rainfor
Page 20 and 21: The North American Indigenous Games
Page 22 and 23: Great paddling around Klemtu. you,
Page 24 and 25: Low tide. first paddle from the mou
Page 26 and 27: Mothership Meanderings Petroglyph I
Page 28 and 29: Alan Wilson photo. FujiFilm Finepix
Page 30 and 31: Quoth The Raven It’s too bad that
Page 32 and 33: Raven isn’t noble, murderous or e
Page 34 and 35: Know Your Neighbours Long Lanky Leg
Page 36 and 37: Paddle Meals Feasting Fields NEVER
Page 38 and 39: UNCLASSIFIEDS RENTALS, TOURS, LESSO
Page 42 and 43: www.WaveLengthMagazine.com Over 1,0
Page 44 and 45: News cont. from page 43 ANCESTORS
Page 46 and 47: News cont. from page 45 Heiltsuk an
Page 48 and 49: Books The Encyclopedia of the First
Page 50 and 51: GREAT GEAR Scott Plastics offers an
Page 52 and 53: Eco-Cultural Tourism Jackson Warren
Page 54 and 55: CALENDAR FEBRUARY Feb 7-9, Outdoor

download - WaveLength Paddling Magazine

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?