Clam gardens, a type of sea garden constructed by First Nations and Native Americans living along the Northwest Coast, are a sophisticated form of shellfish management that ensures a reliable food source for their communities. Studies show that beaches with clam gardens increase clam habitats by 150%-300% compared to beaches without clam gardens. These staggering numbers suggest that management techniques honed over multiple generations have much to teach us about our current use of shellfish. Additionally, as the growing demand for seafood exceeds what is locally available and sustainable in many parts of the world, traditional methods for managing shellfish are becoming increasingly relevant to contemporary concerns about food security.
Nicole Norris (Xelaltxw [Halalt First Nation]) is from the heart of Hul’q’umi’num’ (Coast Salish) territory on Vancouver Island, Canada. She is a founding member of the Hul’q’umi’num’ Lands and Resource Society, Indigenous planning officer for the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, knowledge holder for the Hul’q’umi’num’, and a Coast Salish ally for her colleagues. Previously she worked for more than two decades as a First Nations intergovernmental communicator, aquaculture specialist, cultural safety facilitator, knowledge holder, and cultural practitioner for the First Nations across British Columbia, Canada.