This geocache is part of the Gold Country GeoTour – The Prequel: Be A Guest. This GeoTour focuses on a step back in time to learn about before the Gold Rush ensued: languages of the region’s culturally diverse families, handed down traditions such as recipes, flora and fauna, historic sites of significance, and points of interest. These stories will help preserve the oral languages and traditions of the region as well as assist in educating visitors and locals alike to the cultural diversity and environmental sensitivity of the region.
The Spear Fisherman
Percy Minnabarriet
This Geo Cache is dedicated to one of my childhood neighbours, Percy Minnabarriet. When thinking of Indigenous people to reach out to help complete this GeoTour, I had wished that my dear neighbour was still walking the Earth so I could ask for his assistance. I had always known Percy to be generous with his knowledge of his culture and eager to share with the people who would listen. While I was researching Indigenous and other topics, I came across a You - Tube video of Percy teaching the ways of life called Ts'akw'm, which is the knowledge of the elders passed down the generations while spearing the Steelhead.
Traditionally the people spear fished for Steelhead (cóʕʷłeʔ) in the Thompson River. The Thompson River is located in British Columbia and a traditional spot for fishing would be at the present day town now called Spence’s Bridge. It was a main food source for the Indigenous people, who would fish all year round. Mid - winter was the best time to spear fish as the water would be crystal clear and the fish would be close to the surface because they were sluggish. I listened as Percy demonstrated how to use his hand, fingers and arms to make the measurements to construct the perfect fishing spear, which had three prongs at the end. Juniper, cedar roots, cedar bark and Indian - hemp were traditionally used to hold the barbs and the prongs to the handle. The handle was constructed of two year old dried Juniper, and the pitch from the Ponderosa Pine.
Fishing was a community family event. About 8 families would go out and each would have a representative, and divvy up the catch. The fishing occurred when it was dark, so you could see the fish by the fire basket. The crew of the boat was made of experienced fishermen as they were taught as children by their grandparents and parents. They would construct fire baskets that would stay lit by using the pitch of the Ponderosa Pine. The person at the back of the boat was called the fireman and it was his job to keep the basket fire burning.
While out fishing they would go down stream in drifts. The first drift was about 1 boat length off the shore line. Once they reached their destination some of the crew would stay in their boat and the rest would pull it back upstream to their camp. The crew members that stayed in the boat would use their poles to keep the boat from getting hung up on any of rocks close to the shoreline. Once back they would unload the haul for the rest of the families to start processing and get ready for a second drift.
On this second drift they would be about two boat lengths away from the shore line. The captain of the crew was usually the most experienced and respected. He would make sure that they never ventured too far into the river. The water flowed too fast there for fishing and the reward wasn't worth the risk. By the time the fishermen got back from the second drift there would be fresh fish to eat from their first drift, prepared by the families. It was then time to gather and tell stories.
It was nice to see Percy memorialized forever on the Cooks Ferry Indian Band production about spear fishing. They certainly captured how I knew him as a neighbor, approachable, knowledgeable, kind, generous, and as a provider for his community.
Researched and written by Brandy Cooper-Chardon
Sources:
https://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/_Library/TR/steelhead_nlakapamux_fishing_cfib_brochure.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq8V81sWx-k&list=PL6WSBX5-2NeMXXoSk3CV6j1aCZ0g1HH0s