Nancy Greene and David McGee, local archeologists and Comox Valley residents, are going to be speaking at the upcoming K’ómoks Estuary Seafood Dinner. Their groundbreaking research The Comox Harbour Fish Trap Complex: A Large-Scale, Technologically Sophisticated Intertidal Fishery from British Columbia was recently published in the December 2016 Issue of Canadian Journal of Archaeology. Greene and McGee’s research indicates that a massive fishery was carried out by the First Nations for over 1000 years in the K’ómoks Estuary! “This is awe inspiring research that we are proud to support” commented Project Watershed Chair Paul Horgen.
The Comox Harbour Fish Trap Complex: A Large-Scale, Technologically Sophisticated Intertidal Fishery from British Columbia by Nancy Greene and David McGee
In pre-settlement days the Comox Valley was known as the land of plenty by the K’ómoks First Nation due to the abundance of fish, shellfish and other important resources. Greene and McGee’s exciting archeological work on the thousands of fish trap stakes in the K’ómoks Estuary speaks to this abundance and gives us a new understanding of the immensity and sophistication of this ancient fishery. Another body of archeological research explores the traditional use of shellfish gardens to increase the production and size of shellfish. Both the ancient fishery and shellfish gardening were practiced over 1000 years ago in the K’ómoks Estuary on the principles of Kwakwlaqua (Keeping It Living) – harvesting in a manner that maintains and improves the ecosystem.
To celebrate these findings Project Watershed is holding an exclusive dinner event at Locals Restaurant on June 15th which will highlight elements of this research through mixed media and keynote speakers. A welcome by K’ómoks First Nations Chief Robert Everson and dance by the Kumugwe Dancers will start the evening. A model of a fish trap as described in the archeological paper will be set up along with excerpts from the paper. This event is a component of the BC Shellfish & Seafood Festival and Project Watershed’s 2016 Keeping It Living Campaign. To find out more about the event visit www.projectwatershed.ca/komoks-estuary-seafood-dinner-2016.
Project Watershed is partnering with a variety of local businesses to host this “fun”draising dinner and would like to thank them all for their support (The Kingfisher Resort and Spa, My Tech Guys, Ambassador Transport, 40 KNOTS Winery, Salish Sea Foods, Comox Harbour Charters, Chinook Forest Products, Island Enterprises, and Locals Restaurant). Project Watershed would also like to give kudos to Ecofish who is supporting estuary protection and restoration through their purchase of a table of eight for their team. “Having local businesses such as Ecofish show this kind of support for our work allows us to continue restoring and maintaining the blue-green infrastructure of the Comox Valley” said Technical Chair Dan Bowen.
K’ómoks Estuary Seafood Dinner
Date: June 15th
Time: 5:00pm – 9pm
Location: Locals Restaurant
Cost: $100 – get $10 off membership to Project Watershed if you purchase with your ticket!