Patience should apply to the process that is unfolding at Shelter Point Park on Texada Island. A fire destroyed the park’s concession and caretakers’ home last year. Since then, Powell River Regional District officials have been working toward replacing the buildings as well as adding a gathering structure to reflect the rich cultural history of the site and its significance for Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation.
Shelter Point is one of Tla’amin’s largest historical village sites and contains shell middens, canoe skids and intertidal traps, among many remains.
People have lived in BC for at least 14,000 years, but for 98 per cent of this time, they left no written records. Archaeological sites and oral tradition are the only remnants of this history. Scientific study of the physical remains of past human activity is essential to understanding and appreciating cultural development. Sites are protected and managed for their historical, cultural, scientific and educational value to the general public, local communities and first nations.
In British Columbia, the importance of archaeological sites as a link to the past is recognized in the Heritage Conservation Act. It is against the law to alter an archaeological site without first obtaining a permit to do so. Anyone considering development within an archaeological site must hire a professional consulting archaeologist to determine the steps required to minimize or avoid development impacts on the site.
There are over 300 registered archaeological sites in Tla’amin’s traditional territory and many more will be registered in the next few years, as a result of a partnership with Simon Fraser University. The archaeological department has been working in the area for the past five years under a partnership agreement with Tla’amin and an additional five years was added to the agreement last year. The University of Saskatchewan has also done work in the area.
The partnership has led to a deeper understanding of important sites in the area, including Desolation Sound, Scuttle Bay and Harwood Island. Shelter Point is now added to the list of significant archaeological sites.
New archaeological information can make a valuable contribution to our understanding of the history of our community and prevent the destruction of important cultural resources. It is important the process is done correctly to preserve the rich history on Texada. Once completed, the site has the potential to become an attraction for visitors and residents alike, as well as foster education about the history of our region and respect for the ancient people who lived here for thousands of years.
