WALKING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS Harvesting on Vancouver Island

WALKING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS

HARVESTING ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

KEALY DONALDSON

As a fall person, I absolutely love and look forward

to this time of year. Traditionally this article would take you through a historic site or visit, but my story is more about the idea and ownership of harvesting. I recently relocated on the Island (yes, on Vancouver Island from one community to another) and had a chance encounter with a generous individual who choose to gift her concord 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!

This reminded me of many conversations regarding harvesting rights for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples in Canada. From seashells to cattails, mowich (deer) to salmon, Indigenous harvesting is permitted and recorded to retain records of use and preserve allowable numbers for future harvests.

This past summer, the Tyee Club of BC in Campbell River, on the Tyee Spit, had to share waterways for traditional Indigenous fishing, honouring the rights of the Wei Wai Kum members for salmon harvesting. There were a lot of mixed emotions through this process; who was supposed to be where and some difficulties processing the idea of prioritizing one people over another. The matter stayed very civil but it does ignite many questions around harvesting and hunting. One would tend to think that most embrace conservation and enhancement but we’ve seen projects naturally go astray, like the Sayward Elk Project, and some that flourish once launched.

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 for harvesting and draws for hunting exist for a reason. So a gentle reminder to Indigenous folks to be sure to have your harvesting cards and to report what you are rightfully taking. PAL and CORE are important courses for hunting and bearing arms. Remember safety for all comes first.

Continuing on my grape expectation journey, I discovered this wonderful little fruit press business, Scrumpy’s in Merville. Their beautiful property was the perfect setting for me to bring my gifted harvest and they did a marvelous job of pressing the concords I delivered.

I dropped off my grapes in the early morning and picked up late afternoon; watching the owners Frank and Rae work their magic was delightful to say the least, as well as their conversations with each customer as they dropped their bounty off at this beautiful country facility.

This is their 10th year pressing at Scrumpy’s, and they are still going strong; trying to keep up with the annual demand. Once I picked up the juice, I was off to my wine maker who marvelled at my juice and was just as excited for me as I was to be making wine and producing from a local fruit.

A special thank you to Gillian I. in Comox for the gift of the grapes and the little reminder about looking after your neighbour. It was a tribute and a signal that the concept of mankind is still being able to share with each other, without creating too many creases in kinship and law. Happy and Safe Harvesting to all!