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For earlier materials see Table of Contents

Intensifying production	‘Clam Gardens’
	John Harper & Judy Williams brought to BC’s attention

Illustration from Williams book --- While John Harper flying coast during geomorphology surveys – kept seeing from helicopter these structures which he knew were not ‘natural’ – but no one seemed interested

Ditto Judy Williams conversations with Klahoose elder Elizabeth Harry (Keekus)—1^st Nations knew but professional archaeologists were not interested

	Clam Gardens the book was meant to make us all aware
	Publisher’s web page for book “By liaising with other observers of clam gardens in the Broughton Archipelago and conducting her own survey of Waiatt Bay and Gorge Harbour on Cortes Island, Williams has amassed evidence that the rock structures seen only at the lowest tides were used by native peoples for the purpose of cultivating butter clams”.

Another recent publication looks at how 1^st nations along BC coast practiced a form of cultivation --- Reviewed later Keeping It Living Traditions of Plant Use and Cultivation on Northwest Coast of North America

Intensifying products estuaries etc

Similar to ‘clam gardens’ approach – nutritious root plants grow in marsh/ estuary intertidal and were dug by 1^st nations --- with 10T years presence on coast would expect most 1^st nations would practice some form of ‘enhancing’ the production as supplement to salmon diet --- most the ‘roots’ grew further south so Tsimshian & Tlingit chapters deal more with ’Indian’ Tobacco and potatoes Interesting how this cultivation missed by experts when researching 1^st Nations --- both books explore ‘how come’ and both agree – ‘didn’t fit expectations for a salmon rich environment’ plus it was ‘women’s work’ thus over looked by male researchers

Dr. Nancy Turner	Links
	Campbell River area: ‘clam gardens’ & fish traps archaeology – good story ---- Hume(?) look at HST clam gardens thru oral history

Created by LG on 8/1/2007

Last updated on Tuesday, January 09, 2007