Snuneymuxw First Nation
Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park is part of Snuneymuxw First Nation Traditional Territory. The Snuneymuxw are a Coast Salish people who live on Vancouver Island and speak the Hul'qumi'num dialect. Prior to European contact the Snuneymuxw had many winter villages along the Nanaimo Harbour each one consisting of several longhouses. Archaeological evidence, such as the large number of shell middens, burial sites, and culturally modified trees, indicate that the Snuneymuxw people have used Newcastle Island for many thousands of years. Newcastle was extensively used for fishing for herring and herring roe, salmon, and cod; hunting deer; gathering clams, oysters, crabs, and other shell fish. Plant foods were also gathered here including berries, ferns, and medicinal plants.
The Snuneymuxw have many stories about the Island. One story tells how Haals, the transformer, moved about the land and turned animals and people into stone. Today one can see examples of this in the rock formations along the shoreline. The Snuneymuxw also consider this island a sacred place as it was traditionally used for spiritual training. Young athletes were brought to the island to train for foot racing and canoe pulling.
Map of Snuneymuxw First Nation PLACENAMES
Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park is part of Snuneymuxw First Nation Traditional Territory. The Snuneymuxw are a Coast Salish people who live on Vancouver Island and speak the Hul'qumi'num dialect. Prior to European contact the Snuneymuxw had many winter villages along the Nanaimo Harbour each one consisting of several longhouses. Archaeological evidence, such as the large number of shell middens, burial sites, and culturally modified trees, indicate that the Snuneymuxw people have used Newcastle Island for many thousands of years. Newcastle was extensively used for fishing for herring and herring roe, salmon, and cod; hunting deer; gathering clams, oysters, crabs, and other shell fish. Plant foods were also gathered here including berries, ferns, and medicinal plants.
The Snuneymuxw have many stories about the Island. One story tells how Haals, the transformer, moved about the land and turned animals and people into stone. Today one can see examples of this in the rock formations along the shoreline. The Snuneymuxw also consider this island a sacred place as it was traditionally used for spiritual training. Young athletes were brought to the island to train for foot racing and canoe pulling.
Map of Snuneymuxw First Nation PLACENAMES
