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.