William Housty's grandparents taught him the sacred duty of preparing for the salmon's arrival each year. Before the first silver flashes appeared in the creek, his grandfather — following the wisdom passed down from his own elders — would clear woody debris, chase away seals, and maybe even fell a few trees to ensure a waterway was ready.
"They saw it as their responsibility to roll out a red carpet for the salmon because of their immense importance to us," said Dúqva̓ísḷa William Housty, a member of the Heiltsuk Nation of British Columbia's central coast.
