Salmon Spawning Tour - Takaya
Hi folks! Below are some questions to get you started with your reflection from the Salmon Spawning tour up the Indian Arm. Feel free to respond to one, more than one, or all of the questions if that is your fancy. As always, please write in full sentences and follow paragraph guidelines we are all familiar with since primary school. If you need help with your response or posting, shoot Jake an email message and he will sort it out.
- What was the most memorable thing you learned about your experience during the Salmon Spawning tour?
- How did Dennis' Tsleil-Waututh Nation perspective inform your understanding of 'place, land, and belonging' as you navigated up the Indian Arm?
- Have you seen salmon in the wild before? Please describe your experience seeing multiple schools of salmon swimming up the river?
- Were you inspired to learn more about the history of Indigenous communities after the tour? If yes, please explain why. If no, also please explain why.
- No prompt for number 5, feel free to write on anything you have in mind after this weekend - try to be 'thought provoking.'
16 Replies
This past Sunday’s Salmon spawning tour was a very memorable and educational experience, and as a whole, I’m glad I had the opportunity to be a part of this trip! Come to think of it, I have never actually seen a wild salmon in real life before, which hadn’t occurred to me before we discussed it on the walk back through the forest, so being able to witness a journey that is a part of a salmon’s life cycle was amazing. I have read about salmon species before, although I especially enjoyed seeing them in their natural habitat. It was interesting to learn more about their life cycles and the various local species. I remember our guide sang a traditional song right by the river, and then a few seconds after the last drum beat a salmon school came swimming in right on cue. Perhaps the most memorable things that I learned about were how to distinguish between salmon species, the history of drawings such as the one of a Thunderbird alongside the cliffs, and the issues being faced regarding environmental conservation in the area. After returning home, I truly felt that I knew more about salmon and the story of British Columbia’s First Nations than I did before. I think it is vital to learn about indigenous culture, since, as our guide said, the indigenous people of British Columbia have dwelled here for thousands of years before most of us arrived, and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s perspective tells us a great deal about the importance of the land that we live in and its story from a different viewpoint.
This Sunday's Salmon Spawning tour provided me with a unique experience that enhanced my knowledge of the Salmon lifecycle. The most memorable thing was seeing the life Salmon going through the steps of a lifecycle I had only learnt of before. Seeing it with my own eyes gave me a deeper level of understanding. I realized that I got to be a part of a process that occurs millions of times a year. Our guide, Dennis, intrigued me with information about the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. During our boat ride, I got to know his people's perspective of the events that occurred in the past. Before this, I had little knowledge of what really happened. In addition, he also showed us pictographs that were made about 650 years ago. One of my favorite parts was when he sang a song with the drum, and the echo could be heard to the mountains. Before this trip, I had not seen salmon in the wild before. It's funny to think that salmon is such a commonly known food, but I had never seen a wild one before. It was really refreshing to be able to experience the climate they live in, and be a part of their life. After finding out how little I know about the history of Indigenous communities, I definitely am inspired to learn more about it. I believe it's important to understand other cultures, as it increases your ability to look from other people's perspectives. This trip allowed me to learn about a topic, and then see it with my own eyes. Not only was it informative, but it was entertaining as well. Although I didn't go swimming, it was definitely amusing to watch the others brave the cold.
I had so much fun on the Salmon Spawning Tour and learned a lot about Tsleil-Waututh culture, history, and about the wildlife around the Indian Arm.
I have seen large schools of salmon in the wild before, but they were grouped together and almost stationary. The schools of salmon we saw on Sunday actually moved upriver pretty quickly. I believe that this is due to the fact that the other salmon in the wild I've seen were at their spawning grounds already (drained of all their energy), while the schools we saw on Sunday were still en route to their spawning grounds further upriver (still energized).
The most memorable thing I learned during the Salmon Spawning Tour was the history of Cates Park and the nearby islands and how the region was involved in everyday life for Tsleil-Waututh peoples living there hundreds of years ago. Also, our guide's talk about the attempts of environmental conservation and rehabilitation being made in the Indian River area were memorable, as he explained the history of the old logging companies which left environmental hazards around and the current struggles with building near the river.
I am quite inspired to learn more about the history of Indigenous communities after the tour. In the past I've learned about Canadian Indigenous history in general, but I'd like to learn about more specifics such as the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-Waututh First Nations that reside in Vancouver and the regions around. It's essential to listen to a non-colonizer perspective when understanding the land we live on today, and the Tsleil-Waututh point of view provides a valuable look into the history and importance behind that land.
Thanks for the trip and one of the best experiences of my year, James.
The salmon spawning trip this past sunday was an extremely enjoyable and educational experience. I got to learn about Tsleil-Waututh culture, Salmon, and other knowledge about the wildlife of the Indian Arm.
Prior to this trip, I don't think I've ever seen a living salmon in the wild, even though they are one of my favorite foods. What I didn't expect were how calm they were swimming through the water, because they are typically portrayed jumping through rapids. Perhaps the best part was watching the salmon swim up and down the river navigating the current. This trip taught me a lot about salmon, about their life cycles, and also about the indigenous perspective on them.
One of my favorite parts of the tour was learning about the Tsleil-Waututh culture. It was interesting to learn that Cates park was a summer home for the semi-nomatic tribes that lived here before us. Also, the pictographs that we saw were really cool- it's interesting how the pictographs can last such a long time even in extreme weather. As well, learning about the coming of age tests that the indigenous people had to go through (going into the wild for 4 days with no food!) was really fascinating. The concept of putting the dead up in trees to be closer to heaven rather then burials was also a very different point of view. Seeing the nature from Dennis' Tsleil-Waututh Nation perspective really opened a new level of understanding and gratitude for the nature. Overall, a really enjoyable trip, my only regret is not going swimming.
I definitely had a lot of fun during last Sunday's Salmon Spawning tour. I learned a lot in terms of salmons' life cycle as well as the indigenous communities that once "owned" the splendid place we visited. At the start and throughout our trip, Dennis presented us with songs that he inherited from his ancestors. Even though the songs' melody may not be appreciated by everyone, the emotion, as well as the respect he had in his eyes and his voice towards his culture and our nature, touched all of us, especially the songs he sang at the little beach where his drum echoed with the other side of the river. It was clear that his community had a better, more respectable relationship with nature than we do. Therefore, I was in fact inspired to learn more about the history of Indigenous communities. They actually have their own ways of interacting with the wild lives and the environment, a more intimate relationship than ours in fact. As a newcomer to Canada, I was taught in Social Studies
mainly about how badly the Canadian government treated the indigenous populations, but really I have limited knowledge about what good values the indigenous community had. Nevertheless, after this trip, my interest in indigenous culture increased greatly, and I really appreciate Dennis for his remarkable leading of our trip.
I had such a fun time on the Salmon Spawning tour. Even though I’ve lived on the shores of Indian Arm, I had never made it all the way up. It was amazing to learn about how the Tsleil-Wauthuth people used the arm, and the river, to collect so much of their food. Seeing the fish in the pool where Dennis’s ancestors caught fish was amazing.
I have gone on other school field trips to see wild salmon, but it was such a different experience than this. Whenever we went with school, it was to see the Kokanee salmon, which do not live in the ocean at any point. I think it is fantastic how the fish we saw on this trip can make the transition from fresh water to salt water and back. Seeing the schools of salmon in the river showed just how resilient these creatures are.
I also really like boats, so the fact that we got to take a boat up there was awesome!
I really loved learning about the history of the land we call home, and how privileged we are to live in such a beautiful environment. Dennis educating us on more ancient history and the markings on the cliff faces was fascinating. I have seen salmon many times over the years through fishing trips and camping, although it felt like I was able to connect with them through a whole different way by going in the freezing water.
Having never seen salmon in the wild before, this trip was definitely a memorable one! One of the most impactful things this trip prompted me to reflect on was the way in which I interact with the land, especially as a child of parents who immigrated here.
I pondered a lot in regards to the relationship between these displacements - because my parents' home and the land they inhabited was taken from them, they came to Canada, which, in its origins took land from others (the irony). This trip reminded me to acknowledge the history that comes with the places I visit and the land I live on, in turn spurring greater respect and responsibility of stewardship for it.
After this trip, I was definitely more curious to learn about the history behind the land my house is built on, as well as how colonialism has attempted to wipe out the traditional names for certain places, as well as how the maps of Indigenous communities differs from our 'official' map. (Dennis mentioned several times the Indigenous names for places vs. what it's called on the 'official' map).
All in all, a very solid thought-provoking (and hypothermic) trip :)
For Priyanka R.:
"This journey was filled with new experiences and left me with ideas to ponder. During the journey up the Indian Arm, I learned about the rich history of the land we live on and about the natural beauty British Columbia has to offer. It was a wonderful experience to see the salmon jump out of water because there is a sense of serenity and calmness that can be observed from this. Swimming in BC’s water was a memorable experience not only because it was uncomfortably cold, but also because I viewed the land from a different point of view. The views were outstanding, and the stories were intriguing.
The story of Dennis’s ancestors canoeing up the Indian Arm in unpredictable water to gather food made me think. Although it was fascinating to see the river where Dennis’s ancestors gathered food, I realized how privileged I am to be living here. I reflected on the importance of acknowledging and respecting the land for what it truly is. The history of this land is so rich and filled with more stories than I could imagine. What an informative and beautiful journey!"
For Loren P. :
"I had such an amazing time on the Salmon Spawning Tour. I learned a lot about Tsleil-Waututh Culture, Salmon and the other wildlife that live up Indian Arm.
Prior to this trip I had seen wild salmon before, but they were in a different type of environment. Both of these times were an incredible experience but also very different. The first time I saw wild salmon I saw them in a river with a lot of rapids. In order for the fish to make it to their spawning grounds they had to swim and jump against the rapids. I found it incredible and almost unreal that these salmon would be able to swim up against such strong currents. The river where we saw the salmon on the Takaya Tour was a lot calmer. There was still a current, but it wasn’t nearly as strong as the one I had seen in the past; there were no rapids. My first encounter with wild salmon was very different from my encounter on the tour. The salmon that I saw in the past were very active and energized. They were continuously jumping higher and higher up the rapids. The salmon that I saw on the tour were still pretty active but a lot calmer than the ones I had seen prior to this experience.
I am so grateful that I was able to take part in such an amazing experience with YouthToSea. Each adventure brings so much joy and awe into my life and I can’t wait for the next one."
For Emily S.:
"This past weekend, I had an amazing and unforgettable experience with Takaya Tours, learning about the salmon as well as the stories of the First Nations. It was so cool to learn about the salmon’s life journey and actually see a swarm of them in the lake. The scenery was beautiful and being able to see the markings that First Nations had made was remarkable. We were able to learn more about the Indigenous culture and the problem surrounding environmental sustainability. Learning about the TsleilWaututh culture allowed me to look at “place, land, and belonging” from a different perspective and inspired me to learn more about the history of the Indigenous communities and their traditions. We can help them to grow their cultures and to continue to learn about their stories and pursuits.
Sitting on the sand and looking out at the glistening lake with the swimming salmons was definitely a memorable experience. We were able to fully appreciate nature and the stories of the Indigenous as well as the traditional music that the tour guide had sung. I had never seen salmon in the wild before, especially in the big schools of salmon that were swimming up the river.
This was an amazing experience and trip that allowed me to gain insight on new perspectives and on the Tsleil-Waututh culture."
Travelling up the river in Indian Arm Park to see salmon spawning with Takaya Tours was so much fun and allowed me to connect with nature and learn more about Indigenous Peoples.
I have never heard of a prayer song before, so hearing it with the rhythmic drumbeats was very engaging and, personally, I found it fascinating how his vocals expressed different emotions without saying many specific words. During the boat ride, we also got the opportunity to see pictographs on the rocks on the way to the our destination. At first I didn't see them that clearly, so with the help of some friends, they guided my eyes to see the pictographs. It's really cool how the pictographs are still there from their ancestors' hard work.
The hike to see the school of salmon was surprisingly engaging, since I had to constantly watch where I was going to ensure I would not step into a puddle or babbling stream. . I love being outdoors and hiking because it lets me to be in a free space of beauty and serenity. I saw some jellies, birds, and learnt about some of the fungi that we passed by (from Risa).
Once we arrived at the pool of water to see the salmon, I was immediately awe-strucked by how clean and pure the water is. Living in the city, I have only seen pictures of waters like this; never before in-person. And as a bonus, there was a big school of salmon right where we were for us to see. I have seen salmon in the wild before, but not this extent. Seeing the beauty of the clear waters and the salmon jump & swim as one was certainly motivating me to continue being more eco-friendly and support sustainable businesses.
I originally was not planning to get in the water, but had packed a towel and dry clothes to change into just in case I slip and fall in the water or something like that; I even wore leggings that was made of fast-drying fabric. When one of our friends had accidently gotten a plastic bag into the water and was drifting away, I noticed that no one was in the water to get it out (she did try to), so I immediately took off my shoes and socks and waded in to get the plastic bag out without hesitation- pants on and everything. And then I figured, since I'm already wet, I might as well enjoy the water a little more. I didn't realize how much seeing that piece of garbage in the water bothered me until afterwards when we were hiking back to the boat.
This learning journey was so inspiring, fascinating, and educational on so many different levels. I got to experience harsh weather inside a boat, whereas Indigenous ancestors didn't get that kind of luxury. Hearing about the Indigenous Peoples' history there, seeing the pictographs, and having Takaya Tours lead us has made me realize how little we actually learn about them in the school curriculum, and now my curiosity about the culture makes me want to learn and experience more. Once at the pool, seeing the school of salmon in action and the my reaction the the plastic bag in the water only confirmed my love for the environment and desire to continue being more ocean wise.
Thank you YouthToSea and Takaya Tours for this amazing trip! :)
This past weekends experience is something I will cherish throughout my life. I think learning about the Indigenous peoples' culture and ties to the land and seeing the school of salmon were the two most memorable parts of this trip. Dennis' perspectives of the land and its ties to his culture were very eye-opening and interesting to hear. I found it so interesting learning about the connection of the land to the people and the pictographs and the meanings behind them. Also learning about how important salmon are to the Indigenous peoples and how vital they are to their survival and culture was really amazing to learn. I've never seen salmon in the wild and that was probably what I was most excited about. I learned about the life cycle of salmon when I was younger through an episode of the magic school bus (so nostalgic!!) and I was so fascinated by it and the many changes a salmon goes through in their lives. Being able to witness a part of that cycle will be something I'll remember for a long time. I'm inspired to learn more about the history of Indigenous communities because they've been living here for longer than any of us so there is a lot we could learn from them about the land, oceans, and environment. The salmon and the land is such a big part of their culture and hearing other peoples' perspectives would help to broaden everyone's knowledge and understanding of the world around us. Honestly this trip was a lot of fun. It was hilarious seeing everyone swimming in the freezing cold water, but I got concerned when some people were shaking pretty badly. The water was gorgeous and the scenery was breathtaking.
Thank you for this amazing opportunity!
Emma Chu
For Camille H.:
"I found this past Sunday’s trip up Indian Arm with Takaya Tours to be a very insightful and immersive learning experience. Growing up on the North Shore, I’ve spent a lot of time enjoying the parks, beaches, trails, and waters surrounding Deep Cove/Indian Arm, but I’m almost embarrassed to admit how little I knew about the area’s rich history prior to this excursion. Throughout the day, I learned so much about the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and their ancestral territory. For example, I found it fascinating to hear about how the Tsleil-Waututh people were historically nomadic and would set up villages along the inlet that they would inhabit depending on the time of year. It further interested me to learn that Whey-Ah-Wichen ㄧa place I have been to countless times and which I had previously only ever known as “Cates Park”ㄧ was traditionally a winter village. I thought that it was particularly impactful to learn about the history of the land whilst being surrounded by it. I went home that afternoon with lots to think about; I gained both a deeper appreciation for local Coast Salish culture, as well as a deeper understanding of the issues that still face Indigenous Peoples today."
For Alyana L.:
"I really enjoyed the Salmon Spawning tour at Whey-ah-wichen despite the weather being not the most pleasant. I was very excited for this activity and it did not disappoint! Salmon are a very important species to me as I have done a lot of conservation work with them in the past. I have seen salmon spawning a few times before in Whistler and in the Capilano River, but this location was a lot more isolated and serene. I really wish I had gotten to take a photo of the salmon while I was in the water with them, but I guess I’ll have to take satisfaction from the fact that they swam right by me. I really appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the history of the Tsleil-Waututh Peoples from Dennis. I have visited Whey-ah-wichen (Cates Park) and the Deep Cove area many times but I do not know very much about the history of the land besides that it is Tsleil-Waututh territory. When I am out in nature, I don’t often stop to think of the history of the land I am on or who the original caretakers of the land were. I absolutely want to change that. I think that it is extremely important to remember and honour the people who came before us and protected these lands so that people today can experience its beauty. I want to honour these land protectors by learning more about the history of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and what is now known as North Vancouver."
For Sage N.:
"This was my first time to see Chum salmon in Indian Arm. We got lucky with the weather. It was a cold day just above 0℃ but sunny. So, the visibility was very good. We were able to observe the Salmon habitat and the activity well. As the tour was guided by the people from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation "People of the Inlet", we were able to learn not only about the Salmon but their culture and history. The indigenous culture is strongly connected with the wildlife. And, it is interesting to learn how wisely and sustainably they have run their lives till today. One thing I was puzzled during this trip was that we found many moon jellyfish dead in the fresh water when we were hiking from the beach. Some of us wondered how they got there. So, I did a quick online research when I came home. According to Lamar University, they found that
"Moon jelly fish are generally seen close to shore, in harbor's and estuaries. They live in brackish waters with as salt content of 0.6% which is very low. Temperatures that favor their survival is 9 °C to 19 °C". So, jellyfish CAN live in freshwater but the temperature is not ideal for their survival. I also wondered if it's their life cycle. I am still wondering why many of them were dead there. Over all, it was another great learning experience. Thank you very much for having me on the tour."
Chloe S
Oct 20, 2020 at 9:41 PM