Concord Grapes on the vine © Adobestock / Daniel
WA L K I N G I N T H E I R F O O T S T E P S
HARVESTING ON VANCOUVER ISLAND KEALY DONALDSON As a fall person, I absolutely love and look forward
was supposed to be where and some difficulties process-
to this time of year. Traditionally this article would take
ing the idea of prioritizing one people over another. The
you through a historic site or visit, but my story is more
matter stayed very civil but it does ignite many questions
about the idea and ownership of harvesting. I recently
around harvesting and hunting. One would tend to think
relocated on the Island (yes, on Vancouver Island from
that most embrace conservation and enhancement but
one community to another) and had a chance encounter
we’ve seen projects naturally go astray, like the Sayward
with a generous individual who choose to gift her con-
Elk Project, and some that flourish once launched.
cord grapes to me. It was easy to roll up my sleeves and get to work picking the beautiful bounty that had been granted. Unbeknownst to me, it’s a bit of an undertaking to get these grapes to produce the result I wanted, a beautiful locally made wine. I was game to get the project done and learned lots along the way!
Over the years, I have participated in fall harvesting including local edibles and medicinal, guided by local Knowledge Keepers. I love when I am able to come home with an armload of chanterelle mushrooms or a bucket of clams from my favourite beach. It truly is a lovely, handpicked bounty—but remember, licenses are needed
This reminded me of many conversations regarding har-
for harvesting and draws for hunting exist for a reason.
vesting rights for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples
So a gentle reminder to Indigenous folks to be sure to
in Canada. From seashells to cattails, mowich (deer) to
have your harvesting cards and to report what you are
salmon, Indigenous harvesting is permitted and record-
rightfully taking. PAL and CORE are important courses
ed to retain records of use and preserve allowable num-
for hunting and bearing arms. Remember safety for all
bers for future harvests.
comes first.
This past summer, the Tyee Club of BC in Campbell
Continuing on my grape expectation journey, I discov-
River, on the Tyee Spit, had to share waterways for tra-
ered this wonderful little fruit press business, Scrumpy’s
ditional Indigenous fishing, honouring the rights of the
in Merville. Their beautiful property was the perfect
Wei Wai Kum members for salmon harvesting. There
setting for me to bring my gifted harvest and they did
were a lot of mixed emotions through this process; who
a marvelous job of pressing the concords I delivered.
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