Walker Hook
 Walker
Hook is a place of unparalleled beauty. It is located on the
north end of Salt Spring Island,
one of the largest of the southern Gulf Islands that lie between
Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. Named by white
settlers after schooner captain Edward Walker, the original
Hul'q'umi'num' name is Syuhe'mun, "place to catch up."
 The
"hook" part of the Anglican name refers to a tree-covered
peninsula that is connected to the rest of Salt Spring Island
by a sparsely vegetated spit, tidal marsh area and sandy beach.
The geologic term for this latter connecting portion of the
Walker Hook area is tombolo. Because of the rare juxtaposition
of different ecosystems and the richness and diversity of
biological life the tombolo supports, this area is considered
a sensitive ecosystem.
 The
tombolo and the surrounding areas at Walker Hook also have
a long history of First Nations use. Elders remember hunting,
fishing, and caring for their dead at Syuhe'mun. Archaeological
deposits are deep and complex, and may represent as much
as 4,500 years of First Nations history. Since the colonization
of the island in the 1800s and subsequent decimation of the
native population, settlers have used the tombolo at Walker
Hook for a variety of agricultural and recreational purposes.
Around the turn of the century the Caldwell brothers were
granted title to Syuhe'mun without compensation to First Nations.
Recently, the Caldwells have leased out a portion of the land,
including the tombolo, to Sablefin Hatcheries Ltd. for a large
aquaculture project.
As implied in this brief introduction, Walker Hook is many
things to many people. Follow the links below to find out
more.
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