Revitalizing and future proofing Haíɫzaqv λíλábac̓i (clam gardens) through ǧvíḷás (ancestral laws) du ɫáxvaí (authority)

While Haíɫzaqv ancestors built λíλábac̓i (clam gardens, plural) thousands of years ago, colonial laws imposed by outside provincial and federal governments have severed our relationship with them. Fortunately, Haíɫzaqv are now reestablishing and implementing their ǧvíḷás (ancestral laws) to care for their λíλábac̓i for current and future generations use. Under the direction of the Haíɫzaqv Integrated Resource Management Department (HIRMD), and a cultural and academic committee, we documented ǧvíḷás (ancestral laws) du ɫaxvaí (authority) with semi-directed, purposive interviews with Haíɫzaqv knowledge holders to learn about how Haíɫzaqv people took care of λíλábac̓i and clams. To further understand ancestral clam care taking practices, we analyzed Haíɫzaqv clam songs, dances and stories, and made λábáyú - traditional clam digging sticks designed from historical photos, which we used and tested with Haíɫzaqv children and knowledge holders in Haíɫzaqv λábac̓i. To quantify variation in clam growth rates across λábac̓i we fit saturating growth models to empirically measured k̓vúxvání (butter clam) growth rings from 5 butter clams sampled from the middle of 9 λíλábac̓i terraces located across 4 areas in Haíɫzaqv territory varying in oceanographic and cultural context. Tidal height measurements of λábac̓i (clam garden) rock walls were taken and overlayed with predicted sea-level rise in 25 and 75 years to assess the effects of climate change on future λábac̓i productivity and guide future restoration efforts. Lastly, to future-proof Haíɫzaqv knowledge of λíλábac̓i, we took 6 Haíɫzaqv youth out to dig in a λábac̓i and learn clam related language and practices. We also made a mini documentary to share this knowledge widely with the Haíɫzaqv community. We found that the ǧvíḷás principles of relationship, responsibility, and rights guided Haíɫzaqv Peoples' interactions with clams by way of care taking practices of respect, reciprocity, balance and interconnectedness. We found that k̓vúxvání growth rates varied across λíλábac̓i with the quickest growing, largest, and oldest clams in the Q̓vúqvaítx̌v (Dearth Island). λábac̓i rock wall tidal elevations also varied significantly across areas, suggesting that future restoration efforts may include the re-engineering of rock wall heights and their position in the intertidal zone. Our results reveal that Haíɫzaqv have reawakened their ancestral laws and mariculture technologies, despite the disturbances of climate change and settler colonialism, to secure sovereign food systems and assert Haíɫzaqv inherent rights to the lands, waters, and skies.