Abalone “@apcy`in”

Huu-ay-aht First Nation abalone uses

Some members of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation only harvested abalone a few times a year, abalone was considered a “nuc^anu+” delicacies like candy to children today. For some people living out in Dodgers’ Cove abalone was a treat when gathered, families would get together and share what was gathered. When the tide was at zero, people would gather abalone using a gaff hook along areas of rock. Gathering abalone was not done everyday but only once in awhile that is why it was such a treat when abalone was brought home. The women did the preparing of the abalone; they would thinly slice the abalone and then soak them. Some families ate abalone raw and some families ate the abalone with butter. This varied per family.

The Huu-ay-aht concept of "Hishuk Tsawak" means "all is one" and describes the essential balance of nature, or the "web of life". By using this concept the abalone is used for its food as well as its shell. The carvers used the shell in many of their carvings, and masks, women would use the shells for the ceremonial shawls and the smokers would use the big shells for ashtrays. By utilizing the all of the abalone nothing would go to waste.

As there is very little information to gather about abalone some may think that the abalone was already depleting many years ago. Some Huu-ay-aht members recall seeing totes full of abalone on the docks, all this abalone was being shipped off to the market. Due to the over harvesting of abalone in the past there is very little information to obtain about the use of abalone, this shellfish has little first nation history to it not like other ocean species like clams, oysters, mussels, chitons, urchins and fish.

With the combined efforts from the Bamfield Marine Science Center, Huu-ay-aht First Nation and the Bamfield Community School we may be able to gather further information about abalone. Today it is illegal for any one to harvest abalone, so many First Nation members have not been able to have one of their favourite treats. But with the combined efforts to rebuild the population by many people the Huu-ay-aht members may once again have abalone.

Karen Haugen