Tsartlip First Nation is taking steps to scientifically measure the cumulative effects of settlers’ presence on traditional foods and practices, positioning the Nation to engage in meaningful negotiations with the colonial government.
Settlers’ activities have negatively impacted Tsartlip’s traditional foods and practices – including those protected as Douglas Treaty Rights – since their arrival. In the words of Tsartlip’s Director of Stewardship William Morris, “a lot of our territory has suffered a lot of trauma, whether it’s industrial, development, agriculture, or pollution.”
However, often the effects of settler activities like farming and development are subtle and cumulative. Without intentional efforts to measure those effects, it can be difficult to demonstrate the severity of settlers’ impact.
That’s why Tsartlip is partnering with aligned communities and organizations to measure the impact of settler activities. These efforts involve a series of studies – called “cumulative effects studies – that, in the end, will provide a comprehensive picture of the way settlers’ presence has negatively impacted Tsartlip’s ability to hunt, harvest traditional foods, and engage in other traditional practices.
The first of the cumulative effects studies conducted is a loss-of-use study that Tsartlip started during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the loss-of-use study was to create a map that showed which areas have been impacted by settler activity and presented statistics.
The loss-of-use study focused on settlers’ impact on traditional food sources. To paint a clear picture of the impact, Tsartlip interviewed many harvesters in the community and documented the changes that have occurred.
The second of the cumulative effects studies is a water quality partnership that Tsartlip is conducting alongside Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Capital Regional District, and the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. Through the partnership, Tsartlip is receiving training on how to conduct water quality sampling to eliminate reliance on outside agencies’ samples and analysis. Tsartlip will collect both wet season and dry season samples during the study. So far, Tsartlip collected one of each.
Future initiatives planned as part of the cumulative effects studies include studies to assess the impact of tire coating on the quality of the water and the health of marine life, the impact of runoff from the dump, the impact of pesticides used during farming, and species-specific initiatives to measure the impact of settler activities on each species. One species of particular interest is clams. Because they are filter feeders, studying clams can help Tsartlip measure the presence of everything from COVID-19 to microplastics in the water and in traditional foods.
Tsartlip also plans to study the impacts of sound on traditional foods and practices.
The goal of all of these studies, Morris says, is three-fold. First, the studies will allow Tsartlip “to have something feasible to hand over to the next generation that includes a plan for recouping the shellfish, the birds, the herring, the KELȽOLEMEĆEN,” and all of the other species suffering as a result of settler activities.
Second, the data that results from the studies gives Tsartlip hard evidence that can help influence colonial governments decision-making. Morris shares, “rather than just slamming our fists on the table and saying it’s polluted, we can actually show the statistics.” This goal is already coming to fruition. Having access to the relevant statistics is opening doors to meetings with government officials who have the power to make real change. For example, in response to recent protests of the Bamberton development, the Province appointed an individual to talk about the cumulative effects of the development on the Inlet. The province invited each of the bands of W̱SÁNEĆ to the table, creating an opportunity for large-scale collaboration.
In Morris’ words, “there’s a lot of mismanagement happening in our territories and, now that we have a voice and are being heard, we’d like to influence a lot of those changes.”
Third, the studies will allow Tsartlip to create an “Atlas of Disturbance.” The Atlas of Disturbance will be a comprehensive digital resource detailing Tsartlip’s history, traditional territory, and traditional food sources, along with the ways settlers have impacted each. The Atlas will also cover SENĆOŦEN language and history.
Despite the large scope of this project, Tsartlip is making steady progress and applying for funding on an ongoing basis to keep things moving forward. The Stewardship Department looks forward to the way these efforts will not only improve the quality of life for the Tsartlip community, but will create a better future for many generations to come.
To stay up to date on the cumulative effects studies and more, sign up for Tsartlip’s newsletter.
