"HISHUK ISH TS A WALK - ALL THINGS ARE ONE": TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOREST PRACTICES IN AHOUSAHT FIRST NATION'S TRADITIONAL TERRITORY, CLAYOQUOT SOUND, BC. A Thesis Submitted to the Cornmittee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fu1 fillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts TRENT UNIVERSITY Peterborough, Ontario, Canada (c) Copyright by Robin Yvonne Smith 1997 Canadian Heritage and Development Studies M.A. Program May 1998 National Library Bibliotheque nationale I*m of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 WtMqtOtl Street 395, No WeH'i OüawaON K1AON4 OtEBwaON KiAW Canada CaMda The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or selî reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fih, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conseme la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the auîhor's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. "Hkhuk ish ts'awalk - Al1 Tbings are One": Traditional Eeological Knowledge and Forest Practices in Ahousaht Fimt Nation's Traditional Territory, Clayoquot Sound, BC. Robin Yvonne Smith This thesis investigates the significance of traditional ecological knowledge to forest use and management in Clayoquot Sound BC, with specific reference to the traditional temtory of the Ahousaht Fiat Nation (one of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nations on the west Coast of Vancouver Island). My goal is to develop an understanding of the ways in which the Ahousaht have traditiondly used the forest, and to consider how traditionai know ledge and practices might provide a basis for sustainable forest use within the context of current trends in resource management in the area. I give particular attention to the potential for ecological restoration in the area, and how traditional Ahousaht knowledge might inform restoration plans. Other topics discussed include: research methods and ethical issues, the environmental history of Clayoquot Sound, and oral histones of the Atleo River Valley (the site of our fieldwork in the summer of 1996). In addition. 1 describe the current status of forest ecosystems in the Atleo River Valley, including habitat descriptions and lists of species present in the different habitats, as well as Ahousaht knowledge and observations conceming these habitats. Throughout the thesis, information from a variety of different sources is integrated including: academic literahue, archival materials, field data and observations, and personal interviews. Based on this information, 1 suggest specific recommendations for "ecocultural restoration" in the Atleo River Valley. By reflecting on the intersection of history, culture, and ecology in Ahousaht traditional territory, I hope to show that indeed "ail things are one;" that the past can not be separated from the present or the future, and that facts, values, the scientific, and the spirihial, al1 make up the relationships that bind us together as living beings to one another, and to the places we inhabit. Contents Abstract 1. *. Table of Contents Il. ..* List of Illustrations 111. List of Tables v. Acknowledgments vi. Chapter 1. introduction: "Well, hopehilly this is going to work." 1 Chapter 2. Research Methods and Ethical Issues: 'These things were kept silent." 26 Chapter 3. Environmental History of Clayoquot Sound: "History always brings up the truth of everything." 54 Chapter 4. Histories of the Atleo River Valley: "Our territories are very important to us as nations of Ahousaht." 84 Chapter 5. Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Forest Ecosystems and Habitat Descriptions of the Atleo River Valley: "The trees are an wnbrella." 110 Chapter 6. Ecocultural Restoration in the Atleo River Valley: "It's al1 comected." 1 79 Conclusion: "The answer is to learn to respect." 223 Appendix A 232 Appendix B 237 Appendix C 238 Bibliography 247 Figures 1.1. Map of Clayoquot Sound following page 3 2.1. Dimensions of plots used to survey vegetation in forested, logged, and estuarine areas 2.2. Dimensions of plots used to survey vegetation along lake and river edges 3.1. Biogeoclimatic zones of British Columbia 3.2. Nuu-Chah-Nulth wornen weaving baskets 3.3. Illustration fiom Mozino' s Journal, Dicentra fornosa 3.4. Illustration fiom Mozino's Journal, Fritillaria camschatcensis 3.5. Sketch of temperate tainforest of British Columbia 4.1. Air photo, Atleo River Valley, 1952 4.2. Air photo, Atleo River Valley, 1970 4.3. Air photo, Atleo River Valley, 1987 4.4. Air photo, Atleo River Valley, 199 1 Colour Plates following page 1O9 1. Ahousaht Band Council sign 2. Main dock, Ahousaht 3. Panoramic view, Atleo River Valley 4. Mouth of the Atleo River, looking east 5. Setting up plots 6. Preparing for fieldwork 7. Different habitat types, Atleo River Valley 8. Fallen tree in old-growth forest 9.Old-growth forest 10.Old-growth forest 1 1. Nurse log 12. Liconce fem (Polypodium glycyrrhiza) on mossy log 13. "Edge effect" 14. Forest adjacent to logging road 15. Recent clearcut 16. Slash in clearcut 17. Recent clearcut (1 993/94) Colour Plates cont. 18. Recent clearcut with slash 19. Clearcut, logged 1985 20. Plants growing in 1978/79 clearcut 21. Barra Lake with Yellow Pond Lilies (Nuphar poiysepahin) 22. Fallen tree in Barra Lake 23. Along the banks of the Atleo River 24. Cut-bank, Atleo River 25. Estuary at the mouth of the Atleo River 26. Wildlife tree in eshiary 27. Landslides near Hesquiaht 28. Exposed soi1 beside logging road 29. Logjam in Atleo River 30. Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor) 3 1. Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) 32. Thirnbleberry (Rubtcs parviflorus) 33. Red hucklebeny bush ( Vaccinium parvifolium) 34. Red huc kleberries 35. Trio of plants: basket sedge (Carex obnupta), false hellebore (Vermm viride) and bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) 36. Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) 37. Patches of Paci fic silverweed (Potenfillapacifica) 38. Northem nce root (Fritillaria camschatcensis) 39. Flower of Northem rice root (Fritilluria camschatcensis) 40. Bulb of Northem rice root (Fritillaria camschatcensis) 4 1. Springbank clover (Trifolium worms&oldii) and rhizomes 42. Lena Jumbo with basket sedge (Carex obnupta) 43. Rosie Swan picking cranberries 44. C ulturall y modi fied tree 45. Lena Jumbo with Maquinna hat Tables Table 1.1 : Chronology of Key Events in Clayoquot Sound Table 2.1 : Cover Types Sampled in the Lower Atleo River Valley Table 5.1 : Species found in old-growth cedar-hemlock forest Table 5.2: Species found in old-growth hemlock-amabilis forest Table 5.3: Comparison of plant life fom distribution in cedar-hemlock and hemlock-arnabilis forests. Table 5.4: Species found in areas logged 1991 - 1994 Table 5.5: Species found in areas logged 1985-1986 Table 5.6: Species found in areas logged 1979-1 98 1 Table 5.7: Cornparison of plant life form distribution in areas logged 199 1- 1994, 1985- 1986, and 1979- 198 1. Table 5.8: Species found in forested lake-edge areas Table 5.9: Species found in logged lake-edge areas Table 5.10: Comparison of plant life form distribution in forested and logged lake-edge areas 157 Table 5.1 1 : Species found in forested river riparian areas 162 Table 5.12: Species found in logged river riparian areas 168 Table 5.13: Comparison of plant life form distribution in forested and logged river riparian areas 170 Table 5.14: Species found in estuaries 175 There are a number of people to whom 1 owe a great deal of thanks. First and foremost, 1 would like to thank Chief Umeek (Dr. Richard Atleo) for his vision and support, and for aliowing me to work in his habuuIhi territory. 1 leamed a great deal fiom you, Chief Umeek, and I was honoured by the interest you took in my work. The Ahousaht Band Council also very kindly gave me and my colleague, Juliet Craig, permission to work and live in their comrnunity. Thanks to everyone at the Ahousaht Band Office, especially Chief Councillor Sidney Sam Sr. Also thanks to Pm Jack at the Ahousaht Holistic Centre for al1 her good advice and guidance; it was greatly appreciated! To the people of Ahousaht, 1 owe many thanks, and many warm memories. I am especially grateful to the many Elders and knowledgeable people who shared their theand wisdom with me. Flossie Atleo, Luke Atleo, Greta Charlie, Archie Frank, Gertrude Frank, Chief Earl Maquinna George, Murray John, Car1 and Lena Jumbo, Arlene Paul, Stanley Sam, Sidney Sam, Rosie Swan. Irene Thomas, and Robert Thomas: it was both a great pleasure, and a great honour to learn fiom you. To those of you living outside of Ahousaht - Moms Sutherland, and Clifford Atleo Sr. - thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to speak with me. Looking back on the surnrner of l996,I realize how closely rny life was wrapped up with the lives of so many other people. 1 would especially like to recognize Juliet Craig, niy CO-researcher and good friend. Juliet, it was my great fortune to work with you; you constantly amazed me with your intelligence and strength. Simply put, there is no way 1 could ever have done it without you!! Also that sumrner, I was fortunate in working with four great young people in Ahousaht: Travis Thomas, Daphne Frank, Greg Hayes, and Paul Frank Jr. Thanks for al1 your hard work, and for your good humour.