Category: queer ecologies

land theft, gentrification & displacement, marsh & marine ecosystems (erasure & resurgence), queer ecologies

Early spring in two of the community gardens of Skwácháy̓s: Strathcona & Cottonwood

orchard looking north, Strathcona Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s,
formerly marine and well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9912
“BEEAWARE” sign, Strathcona Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s,
formerly marine and well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9915
orchard looking west with Vancouver Fire Department tower in distance,
Strathcona Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly marine
and well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9916
discarded sleeping bag, Strathcona Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s,
formerly marine and well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9918
pond, Strathcona Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly
marine and well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9920
pond, Strathcona Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly
marine and well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9932
mulch-making, Strathcona Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s,
formerly marine and well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9930
blooming cherry tea looking west with Vancouver Fire Department tower in background, Strathcona Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly tidal (on the east side of Crabapple Point) and well below the 1917 high-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9954
The southern half of Strathcona Park looking east from near Malkin and
Hawks Avenues with homeless encampment in distance,
Cottonwood Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly
marine and well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9922
homeless encampment in Strathcona Park viewed from near Hawks and
Malkin Avenues, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly marine and well
below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9935
homeless encampment in Strathcona Park viewed from Cottonwood
Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly marine and
well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9937
homeless encampment in Strathcona Park viewed from Cottonwood
Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly marine and
well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9940
homeless encampment in Strathcona Park viewed from Cottonwood
Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly marine and well
below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9950
‘NO CAMPING WILDLIFE PARK’ sign, Cottonwood Community
Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly marine and well below
the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9952
“This hill…” sign, Cottonwood Community Garden, north central Skwácháy̓s, formerly
marine and well below the 1917 low-tide line * 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9953
deep time, land & found art, marsh & marine ecosystems (erasure & resurgence), queer ecologies

‘hole in bottom’ sculptural remnants, soon to be obliterated, at Prior and Station Streets below the shores of north-western Skwácháy̓s

Looking south from Prior Street just east of Station Street, we can see the depths of once
was the north-west of historic Skwácháy̓s. Until recently the site of an early twentieth-
century warehouse, this expanse is part of the construction site for the north-western portion of the new St. Paul’s Hospital that broke ground this week. The sites on the
other side of the fence were part of the historic tidal flats with much of the area
portrayed across the horizon, largely marine inlet. Where this image was taken was
roughly along the east shore of the point that connected north to Chinatown and
that extended south to Thornton Park and the location of the 1916-17 national train
station that still operates today. South of this point was a passage of water called
KIWAHUSKS (‘two points opposite’). Much of this area is below sea level or will be
in the coming decades as marine intrusion intensifies. 2021 March 11 * P3A9885
Looking east from Station Street just south of Prior Street, we can see the low-tide line of what was once was the north-west shore of historic Skwácháy̓s. Until recently the site of an early twentieth-century warehouse, This expanse is part of the construction site for the north-western portion of the new St. Paul’s Hospital that broke ground this week. Where
this image was taken was roughly along the east shore of the point that connected north
to Chinatown and that extended south to Thornton Park and the location of the 1916-17 national train station that still operates today. South of this point was a passage of water called KIWAHUSKS (‘two points opposite’). Much of this area is below sea level or will be
in the coming decades as marine intrusion intensifies. 2021 March 11 * E 1P3A9873
Looking east from Station Street just south of Prior Street, we can see signs of ongoing
saltwater intrusion near the low-tide line of what was once was the north-west shore
of historic Skwácháy̓s. Until recently the site of an early twentieth-century warehouse,
this expanse is part of the construction site for the north-western portion of the new
St. Paul’s Hospital that broke ground this week. Where this image was taken was
roughly along the east shore of the point that connected north to Chinatown and that extended south to Thornton Park and the location of the 1916-17 national train
station that still operates today. South of this point was a passage of water called
KIWAHUSKS (‘two points opposite’). Much of this area is below sea level or will be
in the coming decades as marine intrusion intensifies. 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9876
Looking south from Prior Street just east of Station Street, we can see the depths of
once was the north-west of historic Skwácháy̓s. Until recently the site of an
early twentieth-century warehouse, this expanse is part of the construction site
for the north-western portion of the new St. Paul’s Hospital that broke ground this
week. The sites on the other side of the fence were part of the historic tidal
flats with much of the area portrayed across the horizon, largely marine
inlet. Where this image was taken was roughly along the east shore of the
point that connected north to Chinatown and that extended south to
Thornton Park and the location of the 1916-17 national train station that
still operates today. South of this point was a passage of water called
KIWAHUSKS (‘two points opposite’). Much of this area is below sea level or will be
in the coming decades as marine intrusion intensifies. 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9890
Looking east from Station Street just south of Prior Street, we can see a marker that
is roughly on the site of the low-tide mark below the north-western shore of historic Skwácháy̓s. Until recently the site of an early twentieth-century warehouse, this
expanse is part of the construction site for the north-western portion of the new St.
Paul’s Hospital that broke ground this week. The sites on the other side of the fence
were part of the historic tidal flats with much of the area portrayed across the horizon,
largely marine inlet. Where this image was taken was roughly along the east shore of
the point that connected north to Chinatown and that extended south to Thornton
Park and the location of the 1916-17 national train station that still operates today.
South of this point was a passage of water called KIWAHUSKS (‘two points opposite’).
Much of this area is below sea level or will be in the coming decades as marine
intrusion intensifies. 2021 March 11 * 1P3A9900

deep time, marsh & marine ecosystems (erasure & resurgence), queer ecologies, Salish governments & elders

Early spring at Trillium Park below the west side of Crabapple Point, north-western Skwácháy̓s

This old beach house at the corner of Atlantic Street and Malkin Avenue was built along the north-western shore of Skwácháy̓s decades before the beach and inlet were obliterated in the demographic chaos after World War I. The roaring twenties and Jazz were only partial consolation for the heartbreak from the loss of the beach and sea. 2021 March 10 * 1P3A9815
The north-western shore of Skwácháy̓s along the west side of Crabapple Point got steep
near the end of the point. Today, the slope above the high tide line directly
below Atlantic Street and Princess Avenue is being re-enforced just above
Malkin Avenue. 2021 March 10 Skwácháy̓s 1P3A9811
This lost toy is at the north end of Trillium Park near the playground. This area is
roughly at the low-tide line of the tidal flats Skwácháy̓s. 2021 March 10 * 1P3A9817
This view from the north-western side of Trillum Park looking west was below the low tide line of Skwácháy̓s and would have been an entirely marine estuary. Today the view is into the construction of the north-eastern side of the construction site for the new version of St. Paul’s Hospital. This area was nearly all marine with some tidal flats closer to Prior Street and was filled with garbage and poorly consolidated material. Most of these sites are below sea level or will be in the coming decades. 2021 March 10 * 1P3A9825
This view from the north-western side of Trillum Park looking west was below the low tide line of Skwácháy̓s and would have been an entirely marine estuary. Today the view is into the construction of the north-eastern side of the construction site for the new version of St. Paul’s Hospital. This area was nearly all marine with some tidal flats closer to Prior Street and was filled with garbage and poorly consolidated material. Most of these sites are below sea level or will be in the coming decades. 2021 March 10 * 1P3A9832
At the east side of the corner of Thornton Street and Malkin Avenue that a century
ago was tidal flats along the north-western shore of Skwácháy̓s, there are
warehouses and an installation by artist Ken Lum. There is also informal art
such as ‘you’ spray-painted on a rock. Most of these sites are below sea level
or will be in the coming decades. 2021 March 10 * 1P3A9812
This blooming mustard is at the east side of the corner of Thornton Street and Malkin
Avenue that a century ago was tidal flats along the north-western shore of Skwácháy̓s.
Today, there are warehouses and an installation by artist Ken Lum. This site is nearly
below sea level and will be below sea level in the coming decades. 2021 March 10 * 1P3A9813
This camper is parked on Thornton Street south of Malkin Avenue and provides
crucial temporary housing especially for a city with severe real estate speculation
and a resulting housing shortage along with gentrification and relatively low wages
in the service sector. This site is below sea level. 2021 March 10 * 1P3A9838
This yarrow, Achillea millefolium, along National Street just east of Malkin Avenue, is
an important traditional medicinal for the owners and guardians of this territory,
the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ /
Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. That this circumpolar herb, most common
around the North Pacific, is one of the few traditionally used plants that can
colonize this toxic soil is an important indicator. 2021 March 10 * 1P3A9804
This yarrow, Achillea millefolium, along National Street just east of Malkin Avenue
looking north, is an important traditional medicinal for the owners and guardians
of this territory, the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. That this circumpolar herb, most
common around the North Pacific, is one of the few traditionally used plants that
can colonize this toxic soil is an important indicator. 2021 March 10 * 1P3A9806
deep time, land theft, gentrification & displacement, marsh & marine ecosystems (erasure & resurgence), queer ecologies

Excavations down to the Skwácháy̓s beach to the east of the mouth of Scotia Creek

On a grey winter day, the view through the fence of the recently uncovered beach, that lined the south-western side of Skwácháy̓s, was unmistakable and breathtaking. A bit more than a century ago, there were beach-houses just above below what today is East 2nd Avenue. Today this pit contains a lot of water and is below current and projected sea levels.

Looking north, across Skwácháy̓s, from East 1st and Thornton, 2021 February 19 * 1P3A9727
The beach at low-tide on the south-west shore of Skwácháy̓s looking
north from Thornton and East 1st, 2021 February 19 * 1P3A9726
Looking north, across Skwácháy̓s, and into the excavated beach
from east of East 1st and Scotia, 2021 February 19 * 1P3A9727
Look west across what was once the south-western shore of Skwácháy̓s
from Thornton below East 1st, 2021 February 19 * 1P3A9701

Looking west, from Thornton below East 1st, down into the excavated beach on
the south-western shore of Skwácháy̓s, 2021 February 19 * 1P3A9703
Looking west, from Thornton below East 1st, down into the excavated beach
on the south-western shore of Skwácháy̓s, 2021 February 19 * 1P3A9708
Beyond low tide below the south-western shore Skwácháy̓s: a building on the other side of the most northerly tracks across from the north end of Thornton, 2021 February 19 * 1P3A9725
Looking north across Skwácháy̓s from East 2nd east of Scotia with the street
just above the historic high tide line of Skwácháy̓s, 2021 February 19 * 1P3A9699
Water from the excavated beach along the south-western shore of Skwácháy̓s being directed into storm drainage on East 1st east of Scotia (Creek), 2021 February 19 * 1P3A9733
land & found art, marsh & marine ecosystems (erasure & resurgence), queer ecologies

2019 a recent satellite composite of False Creek Flats that hints at the historic shores of Skwácháy̓s

This image was taken off of Google Earth in mid-2019. Processed with some intensified saturation, this low-lying area, increasingly below sea level, remains a largely ‘undeveloped’ neighbourhood increasingly fobbed off to artists, artisanal manufacturers, and a range of demographics desperate for housing.

deep time, land theft, gentrification & displacement, marsh & marine ecosystems (erasure & resurgence), queer ecologies

Skwácháy̓s resurging with sea level rise

“Sea level rise [for Central Vancouver] may be ‘3 times worse’ than expected.”
Simon Little. 2019. Sea level rise may be ‘3 times worse’ than expected. Here’s how it could impact Metro Vancouver. GLOBAL NEWS (October 30, 2019, Updated November 1, 2019).

The revised projections for sea level rise in central Vancouver reconfirm that Skwácháy̓s (the inlet and tidal flats once called False Creek East), that were destroyed with loose garbage and dirt in 1917-23 to become False Creek Flats, will, in the not-so-distant future, become marine and estuarine again.

archival, deep time, marsh & marine ecosystems (erasure & resurgence), queer ecologies

Draining False Creek Flats well into the 1960s

False Creek flatlands. Vancouver Public Library Number: 42026.
Photographer: Vancouver Province Newspaper

This ditch from sometimes in the 1960s indicates the amount of water that was still flowing into False Creek Flats. We can assume that further east, the standing water was fresh and coming from the Trout Lake watershed that drains into Skwácháy̓s. But further west near the train station, there still some intrusion of salt water back on to the land — a process of marine reclamation now intensifying with sea level rise.

archival, marsh & marine ecosystems (erasure & resurgence), queer ecologies

By 1935-36 the eastern end of Skwácháy̓s had been converted into dry land

1935-1936 – Rooftop view looking North over False Creek flats. Vancouver Public Library Archive Number: 7917. Photographer: Leonard Frank.

These views looked north over the eastern end of False Creek flats with the current bridge connecting East 1st Avenue (and Terminal Avenue) to Clark Drive already built. Vernon Drive that currently goes under that bridge had not been constructed. The cattle grazing is an important indicator. In contrast to much of the western end of Skwácháy̓s that was filled with garbage, this area, the south-eastern portion of the tidal flats, was filled with soil from the Grandview Cut that was excavated for the rail lines to the recently constructed, Pacific train terminal built at the western end of Skwácháy̓s.

archival, land theft, gentrification & displacement, marsh & marine ecosystems (erasure & resurgence), queer ecologies

1931 The formation of The Jungle on Skwácháy̓s in The Great Depression



Shelter in the ‘Jungle’ at the City dump, 1931. City of Vancouver Archives, Re N3.2

The Great Depression brought a great deal of homelessness to Vancouver especially for young single males. As the crisis intensified over the 1930s, shacks and shanties were built in ‘The Jungle’ [with every North American having a ‘The Jungle’ shanty area in those years] along the north side of what was Skwácháy̓s — areas that remained the lowest, the most poorly filled (often with garbage), and still vulnerable to flooding with exceptional tides.