BY DUSTIN WALKER, THE DAILY NEWS JULY 7, 2010
The Snuneymuxw First Nation hopes to conduct aerial surveys that could provide more insight on ancient clam gardens that have been uncovered in the region. First Nations people all along the coast used these structures to harvest seafood more efficiently. These long mounds of rocks may not seem like much to the layman, but for ancient aboriginals, they were a vital resource in gathering food. The garden are fenced in with rings of rocks around the tide line to increase the intertidal area. This prevents sand from eroding away and creates a garden for such seafood to flourish.
Clam gardens on Gabriola Island near Gabriola Passage were discovered about a month ago, while other clam gardens were previously found in the Dodd Narrows area. However, archeologists suspect that there are far more along the Nanaimo coastline that haven't been documented. The Snuneymuxw First Nations looking for government funding to pay for an aerial survey to document and learn more about these and other gardens in the area. Snuneymuxw councillor Geraldine Manson said the gardens represent an important aspect of ancient First Nations life.
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