The Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Search for Slhawt’ program has been featured in the following publications, news articles, blog posts, and radio programs:

New Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre exhibit showcases stewardship

Pique News

May 25, 2024
We are honoured to see the Search for Slhawt’/Herring Program  featured in the new Stewards of the Land exhibition at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) in Whistler.
“In traditional Squamish (Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Úxwumixw) and Lil’wat (Líl̓wat7úl) culture, stewardship is a communal affair. Taking care of territory is not the job of a select few, but rather an aim shared throughout society.”
“When it comes to safeguarding the biosphere, land and water go hand-in-hand. That’s why “Stewards of the Land” includes a portion on the Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative: a comprehensive assemblage of reports about the evolving hydrology of Howe Sound and the impact of human activities upon its waterways.”

Squamish herring spawn survey nearing its wrap-up

Squamish Chief

Apr. 27, 2024

Andrew Hughes from the Squamish Chief joined our boat survey team to view current spawn sites and hear updates from this year’s Search for Slhawt’ / Herring Program.

The story was also shared by partner papers, such as the North Shore News, Coast Reporter, Bowen Island Undercurrent, and others.

The local herring spawn surveying is nearing its wrap-up, but once again, the program is learning more and more about herring behaviour each year.

What on Earth with Laura Lynch

CBC Radio

Dec. 24 & 26, 2023
The Search for Slhawt’/Herring Program was featured in the 2023 highlights from CBC/Radio-Canada‘s ‘What On Earth with Laura Lynch’. We’re so pleased to hear that this story was a highlight for their team as well as ours.
Originally aired on May 7, 2023, we heard this story on the radio again on Dec. 24 and 26, 2023.
 
If you didn’t catch it live, you can go back and listen to our feature starting at the 24:23 timestamp:

Herring survey 2023 insights: A dive into Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound

Squamish Chief

Nov. 6, 2023

The Squamish Chief wrote an article about the results of our 2023 survey results and report. The story was also shared by partner papers, such as the North Shore News, Coast Reporter, Bowen Island Undercurrent, and others.

Learn about the spring herring spawn survey, including sightings of northern anchovies. Explore the implications for marine conservation and research opportunities.

Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Slhawt’/Herring Survey Report – Winter & Spring 2023

Marine Stewardship Initiative

Oct. 27, 2023

We published our 2023 Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Slhawt’/Herring Survey Report, which shares stories and results from the survey season.

In recent years, throughout this region, there has been a growing recognition that slhawt’/Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) are present and play a vital role in this large ecosystem of relationships. Traditionally, slhawt’/herring have represented the first flush of protein to return after a long winter.

 

St’a7mes School ceremony welcomes start of annual herring run

Squamish Chief

Mar. 13, 2023

The Squamish Chief shared photos from the St’a7mes School ceremony welcoming the start of the annual herring run.

The event marks the beginning of Tem Lhawt’ (herring run) in Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound. There was singing, drumming and the stringing together of hemlock boughs.

 

Unveiling the Vital Role of Herring: A foundational species in Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound

Squamish Chief

Jul. 18, 2023

The Squamish Chief wrote an article about the importance of slhawt’/herring to our region.

Discover how citizen scientists and local organizations collaborate to protect herring populations through dedicated surveys and data collection.

GFL team search for herring spawn

GFL Environmental Inc.

May 31, 2023

GFL Environmental Inc. has been a key supporter of the Search for Slhawt’ program over the years. We are so grateful for their contributions through volunteer hours and donations from the Full Circle Project.

“It’s been amazing for GFL to donate to this grassroots initiative,“ Customer Service Representative Eden Imbeau said. “Through volunteering, we have expanded our network and made wonderful new connections.”

 

Citizen science is helping restore herring populations in B.C.’s Howe Sound

CBC News

May 11, 2023

The Search for Slhawt’ team (and several sea lions) were featured on CBC Radio’s ‘What on Earth with Laura Lynch’.

On a cold, rainy day in April, the hunt begins.

Courtney Smaha, project director for the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative, and four others climb aboard a boat to head into Howe Sound (Átl’ḵa7tsem in Squamish), north of Vancouver, on the lookout for herring.

Slhawt’/Herring Survey Report Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Tem Lhawt’ – Winter and Spring 2022

Marine Stewardship Initiative

May 1, 2023

We published our 2022 Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Slhawt’/Herring Survey Report, which shares stories and results from the survey season.

The goal of the Searching for Slhawt’ project is to establish a long term dataset to track trends in slhawt’ spawn distribution, abundance, and timing.

During the 2022 spawning season, improvements were made to the methods, quantity of data collected, and quality of spawning delineation, when compared to surveys conducted in the 2021 survey year.

Welcoming Herring Home

Hakai Magazine

Nov. 19, 2022

Lauren Kaljur wrote a wonderful article about the Search for Slhawt’ and the challenges slhawt’/herring are facing in our region.

Originally published in Hakai Magazine, this story was also shared on The Narwhal, The Tyee, The Walrus, and other news outlets.

Herring all but disappeared from the shorelines around Sḵwx̱wú7mesh homelands in the past. Now volunteers are keeping careful tabs on the comeback efforts of a tiny fish with big cultural value.

 

Hoping for Herring

Marine Stewardship Initiative

Mar. 17, 2021

We shared our 2021 survey results in a blog post.

If you are lucky, you may spot egg-laden kelp slowly dancing in the tidal waters. Lucky, because the herring are slowly starting to return from a devastating population crash, caused by years of industrial pollution, habitat destruction, and overfishing.

Where once the waters were abundant with these small silver fish, it has become a rarity to spot them. Only in the past few years do herring seem to be returning to successfully spawn.

Our hands are raised in gratitude to all the volunteers, contractors, and staff who have contributed to the success of this program. This work would not be possible without the energy, time, and passion that you bring forth to caring for this land.