Beacon Hill Park: A Traditional Camas Field and Indigenous Foodscape

🌸 A Park with Deep Roots

Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, British Columbia, is well-known today for its meandering paths, ocean views, and peacocks—but did you know this land was once a flourishing camas field?

Long before colonization, Beacon Hill was a carefully maintained foodscape tended by the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples—today known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. They gathered here each spring to harvest camas, a beautiful blue-flowered plant with rich roots in both culture and cuisine.

🌱 What is Camas?

Camas (Camassia quamash) is a native plant with starry blue blossoms and a starchy bulb that was roasted for over 24 hours in underground pit ovens. The result? A naturally sweet, nutritious food that served as a staple in Indigenous diets and was traded widely across the region.

But camas harvesting isn’t simple—it requires deep ecological knowledge. Another plant called death camas looks similar but is toxic. Knowing the difference and cultivating the right kind was an inherited responsibility, often carried by Indigenous women, who were the primary caretakers of these lands.

🔥 Indigenous Land Stewardship in Action

Contrary to the idea that these were "wild meadows," the camas fields of Beacon Hill were actively managed. Lekwungen Peoples used cultural burning, pruning, and soil tending to encourage camas growth and preserve the biodiversity of the area.

This was not just a food source—it was a community gathering space, a ceremonial ground, and a symbol of sustainable, reciprocal living with nature.

🌊 Why It Matters Today

When we walk through Beacon Hill Park today, we walk on layers of memory. Beneath the grass and paved paths lies a story of connection to land, community, and care.

Acknowledging the traditional use of Beacon Hill as a camas field helps us:

• Recognize and honor Indigenous histories

• Understand how this land was cultivated, not wild

• Practice respectful recreation and learning

If you’ve listened to The Penny and Joe Podcast, you know how much we love exploring the stories of Beacon Hill Park. Knowing the real story behind these meadows makes every squirrel chase and raccoon dance a little more magical—and meaningful.

🎧 Listen and Learn with Penny and Joe

At The Penny and Joe Podcast, we celebrate the joy of nature, the cleverness of animals, and the richness of Indigenous land stories. Tune in with your little ones to hear silly raccoon tales that spark curiosity about the land around us.

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➡️ Learn more about camas and the Lekwungen Peoples here