Living Loxiwe: Revitalizing Clam Gardening Practices in Northern Quadra Island

Loxiwe, or clam gardens, are an ancient and sophisticated mariculture technique developed by Indigenous Peoples of the Northwest Pacific Coast. Through construction of a rock wall, Indigenous communities significantly increase habitat and improve productivity for a large diversity of marine species, including clam species, such as butter clam (Saxidomus gigantea) and littleneck clam (Protothaca staminea). In this way, loxiwe are both a sustainable food source for Indigenous communities and important areas of cultural production. Their ecological and cultural heath requires active tending by local Indigenous communities; however these activities often require permits due to loxiwe’s status as archaeological sites protected by colonial law. In this project, Nanwakolas Council will lead a team of Indigenous knowledge-holders, experts, community-members, scientists, and marine managers to develop a set of recommendations for how Indigenous Knowledge can be included in modern management of living archeological sites, using loxiwe as an example. The project will take place in the core territory of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation on Northern Quadra Island, off the coast of British Columbia.

As heritage sites that pre-date A.D. 1846, loxiwe in British Columbia are governed under the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA). However, the HCA does not currently include Indigenous Knowledge in its protection of heritage sites. British Columbia has acknowledged this crucial gap, and this project team aims to incorporate its recommendations into the process now underway to revitalize the HCA. Moreover, the Nanwakolas Council has established a co-management relationship with British Columbia to govern and regulate activities in the shared marine environment, a relationship known as the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP). The recommendations from this project will also be used to inform MaPP, including defining marine use zones and developing spatial protections for living cultural sites such as loxiwe.

Project Team

Project Lead:

• Christine Roberts – Wei Wai Kum archaeologist and knowledge holder

Support Personnel:

• Andy Puglas – Mamalilikulla knowledge-holder
• Krissy Brown – K’omoks knowledge-holder
• Shane Pollard – We Wai Kai knowledge-holder
• Charlene Everson – Nanwakolas Cultural Coordinator
• Scott Harris – Nanwakolas Guardian Coordinator

External Collaborators:

• Sally Cargill - Marine Planner, Province of British Columbia
• Zander Chila - Technical Projects Coordinator, Northern Vancouver Island
• Nicole Smith - Archeologist, The Clam Garden Network
• Anne Salomon - Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University
• Sean Connaughton - Archaeological Consultant, Inlailawatash L.P.
• Rebecca Martone - Executive Director, Ocean Decade Collaborative Center for the Northeast Pacific