Nautical Notes
by Marilyn Guille

    I love being near the water no matter what time of year, so when my friend needed help with an anthropology project about the Nanoose Band, I was happy to offer. She had two objectives: to locate a particular petroglyph on the Englishman River, and to take some pictures of the Craig Bay development site, preferably from the high-tide line.
    It was pouring rain when we set out in the general direction of Top Bridge, and with only a cursory description of a location, started looking for that petroglyph. Found! Within minutes, too, surprising us both. While my friend took some film footage of this wonderful rock art form in its natural surroundings, I just stood and stared, in awe of what I was seeing. I've lived here for almost seven years, and I had no idea we were surrounded by such rich historical information, left by the first inhabitants of this area.
    Then off we went to Craig Bay. The day's sunlight was beginning to fade when we parked the car, and as we walked along the shoreline toward the condos, I became aware of the calmness I always feel near the water. Absorbed in my quasi-meditation, I was jolted when my friend's voice behind me said, "Look at this bank!" Sure enough, we were staring straight into a black eight foot deep midden, complete with shells and charcoaled, heat-cracked rock. With modern waterfront houses built right on top of it.
    Unaware then of the anthropological ethics of messing with this stuff, I impulsively reached into the bank and pulled away a chunk of rock. My fingers were black - not with soil, but with the ashes of a fire lit over 2000 years ago on the shores of Craig Bay. I stood there speechless, and anyone who knows me knows how rare that is.
    At the very least, the depth of my understanding of this wonderful place I live has increased enormously because of this outing. But if I'm really honest with myself, I'd have to say that what started out as an innocent hike to help a friend turned into an awesome, and, dare I say it? spiritual experience.
    I'm afraid I may never see waterfront development the same again.

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