Reconstructing Ancestral səl̓ilwətaɬ Diets

Archaeology and Ecology for Indigenous Food Sovereignty

A large fish with a silver underbelly leaps out of the water, its fins rippling the surface. The water is calm, reflecting the green vegetation on the banks.

Event Details

When:

-

Location:

Online: Zoom

Price:

Free

Brought to you by:

Salish Sea Institute, The Foundation for WWU & Alumni

Description

Check out this video to watch the Reconstructing Ancestral səl̓ilwətaɬ Diets.

We invite you to explore a fascinating collaborative, transdisciplinary research project led by the səl̓ilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). This project integrates archeology, ecology, historical and archival records, and səl̓ilwətaɬ traditional ecological and cultural knowledge to reconstruct the precontact diet of səl̓ilwətaɬ communities. By examining archeology and historical ecology, we can uncover the Coast Salish management of marine, tidal, and terrestrial environments.

Studying past subsistence practices offers a unique lens to understand the deep connections between people and their homelands, highlighting Indigenous food sovereignty before European contact. Join us in this journey to deepen our understanding of the relationships between people and place in the Salish Sea.

Featuring:

A young woman with long, wavy strawberry blonde hair smiles brightly at the camera. She is wearing a black turtleneck sweater against a grey background.

Meaghan Efford, PhD, Speaker

Meaghan Efford (she/her) is a zooarchaeologist and historical ecologist, and she recently defended her PhD at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia. She specializes in human-to-environment relationships over deep time, ecosystem modelling, and community-driven archaeology.

Questions and Accommodations

  • Your point of contact for this event is The Foundation for WWU & Alumni. Call (360) 650-3353 or email Alumni@wwu.edu.
  • Advance notice for disability accommodations and special needs is appreciated. Please mention your needs when registering.
  • There will be auto-captions for the Zoom webinar.

The views expressed by our speaker do not necessarily reflect those of Western Washington University.