Learning About Cowichan

Today was an amazing day as I went with some people from the community to learn how the First Nations people cooked salmon over an open fire. We were met by a young First Nations man, Jared, who taught us about the salmon and how they used "iron wood" - wood from the ocean spray plant to cook them on. You had to find sticks that were strong and straight and split them down the middle to hold the salmon.They use this wood because it doesn't burn easily and can be used for many hours. It took hours to cook the salmon.

Jared with the salmon over the fire

While it cooked we took a walk and learned about different local plants that we could eat or make into tea or use for healing purposes. We sampled blackberry vine and rose petals and later had tea made from the blackberry branch. It was a lot like celery.

We heard stories of the past about the river and the salmon run that happens every year. We learned how the river is struggling with the lack of water we have had over the past few years. We experienced a drought like this one back in 1937 but back then the river was healthy and able to restore itself. Now with the wier at the lake and man made dikes the river is no longer able to work the way it was intended. Each year the salmon struggle to come up to spawn. The temperature of the water is not as cold as the salmon would like it to be and many don't survive.



Learning about the river

After the walk we returned and shared in a prayer that Jared offered to us through his drumming and singing. Jared had a stammer or stutter when he spoke English which would have been his first language but I noticed that when he spoke in the native language it easily flowed from him. I wonder if in someways he was meant to speak his native tongue and not our language.



The salmon is ready!

After the prayer we feasted on the salmon which was wonderful and salads that others had brought to share.

A wonderful lunch!!

These gatherings that happen each month are bringing us together in community. It is time we learn about the stories and ways of the people that were in this valley before we came. Their spirituality is a deep part of the way of their life. It is time we took up their ways in caring for the planet, having respect for the plant and animal life that surrounds us.

Long Weekend Adventures!

This past weekend was a holiday weekend here in Canada so I had three days with no work, no committments and nothing really I had to do. A few chores around the house but hey they could always wait.

So the first day a friend and I hopped on a ferry and went to one of the little islands off our of our island. We spent four hours hiking a fairly easy trail looking for caches. Geocaching is one of our "hobbies" and it gets us out on trails we normally would not find or know existed.

We met some friends along the way...smaller than us, slower than us but still enjoying all the amazing things that nature brings to our lives.

We found more than caches...we found some fantastic Arbutus trees. This one was especially fantastic looking so with a little help up I found myself a seat on its lowest branch...a little high for my comfort zone but it gave us a laugh to be up in the tree.

The views along the way weren't too bad either...we could look back at where we had come from across the water. It was a great day - 5 miles 21 caches found, laughter shared, nature admired.

The next day I took my parents up to see my daughter and her fiance. It was another wonderful day bringing three genereations together. My parents hadn't been up there for a year but a couple of hours on the road and we arrived in Comox at the north end of VI.

A stop along the way to stretch our legs and enjoy a hot beverage. The young folks weren't expecting us quite this early so a break was needed to postpone our arrival.

My soon to be son in law was fixing up an old 56 Chevy so he and Dad went for a ride. The young and the elderly sharing a fun adventure only guys can understand.

The last day of the weekend arrived and my daughter along with my 4 month old granddaughter decided to go for a short hike and explore a trail we had noticed but never travelled. It was another adventure for three generations to take part in.

The two legged, the carried and the four legged all heading out in the woods exploring all the wonders of nature. It was a hot day but thankfully it was cool in the trees.

We then came across a tunnel that we would have to travel through in order to reach the view site. It was dark and cool inside the tunnel and tempting to just stay there.

Less than an hour later we arrived at the bluff looking over Genoa Bay. We were blessed to find such a lovely view after such a short easy hike. We chatted and rested at the top and decided next time we must bring the rest of the family along. A family picnic was in order!

It was an absolutely fantastic weekend. Everything was so beautiful and as it came to an end I had nothing but thankfulness in my heart. So blessed to have had such a wonderful time. Friends, family, three generations in two different combinations on different days, time on two islands, two trails hiked, time spent surrounded in nature, a road trip and stories and laughter shared. Life can't get much better.