I was gratefully able to contribute to a program on CBC radio on the intersection between science and indigenous knowledge. This is a huge and complex topic and there is so much to be learned and told. This hour-long special delves into some of these complexities by speaking to several individuals who are currently working in this blended research to … Read More
Clam garden construction and restoration
The first question I am usually asked is what exactly is a ‘clam garden’. In these instances, it describes a cleared and terraced beach. They are ancient structures that were built, by coastal First Nations in the Pacific Northwest, to support traditional food species including, but not limited to, Pacific Little Neck clams (Protothaca staminea) and Butter clams (Saxidomas giganteus). … Read More
Clam gardens – Northeast Pacific Stonehenge
It is amazing to think that until two years ago, I had never heard of a clam garden. I have spent considerable time exploring the shorelines of coastal British Columbia and had never noticed these amazing inter-tidal structures. However, even if I had seen them I, like many others, likely would have not understood their significance. The construction of a … Read More
A baby Red Octopus can make anyone’s day
I love my field work, but some days it is pretty tough. Plans go awry, black flies haunt us, we are cold and wet or my fair skin is sizzling in the sun, but then there are always moments that make all of it worth while. For me, this was one of them. While working on a beautiful clam garden … Read More