Michelle George’s family recounts tales of abundant fish in Burrard Inlet so plentiful that they obstructed ships from proceeding further into the waterway. Michelle reminisces, “You could walk across the backs of the fish to reach the other side of the river.” However, dynamite fishing led to their complete depletion.
A recent research study conducted in collaboration with the səl̓ilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation and the University of British Columbia reveals the detrimental effects of colonization dating back to 1750. Colonization, marked by smallpox outbreaks, overfishing, and industrialization, decimated nearly 90% of the food systems and resources in the Burrard Inlet in Metro Vancouver.
The study, believed to be the first endeavor to quantify colonization’s impact on an ecosystem, sheds light on the severe consequences. Michelle George, a co-author and cultural specialist with Tsleil-Waututh, expressed, “After contact, our homes, lives, and surrounding ecology were devastated.” Her father, Micheal George, a cultural advisor with Tsleil-Waututh, added, “From tales of abundance and diverse seafood to near depletion, the transformation is stark.”
Until around 1972, community members were able to enjoy clams on the Inlet’s beach, a tradition that abruptly halted. The research, spanning from 1750 to 1980, draws insights from archaeology, historical ecology, archival records, and Tsleil-Waututh science.
Before European contact in 1792, the Tsleil-Waututh annually harvested over 2,200 tons of food from the inlet, including clams, herring, chum salmon, birds, and crabs. Sadly, species like herring, sturgeon, and halibut were locally exterminated from the Burrard Inlet.
Herring depletion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries resulted from settler fisheries resorting to dynamite fishing as a preferred technique. The loss of herring, a staple in səl̓ilwətaɬ diets, and the decline of salmon biomass signify a significant blow to their traditional lifeways and food sovereignty.
The study underscores the devastating impact of smallpox epidemics on the Tsleil-Waututh population, leading to an 80% reduction post-1782. The settler population surge post-epidemics further exacerbated environmental degradation.
Amidst the tremendous loss of biodiversity, efforts like eelgrass transplantation and herring and orca sightings in the Inlet provide hope for restoration and a healthier ecosystem. The study’s findings emphasize the urgent need for habitat restoration and the preservation of Indigenous rights and ways of life.
This study highlights the profound ecological and human consequences of colonization on the Burrard Inlet ecosystem, urging action to reverse the damage inflicted over centuries.