About Nootka Shellfish
The Nootka Shellfish Story
British Columbia is one of the most rugged places in Canada. Glacier-fed creeks course down through the lush rainforest, reaching the North Pacific Ocean in deep fjords and protected inlets. These clean, cool waters feed our shellfish products which are harvested by people that are part of, and stewards to, the environment.
This has been home to First Nations for at least six thousand years. The word "Nootka" originated in 1778 during a quest for fresh water. Captain James Cook was anchored with his ships, H.M.S. Resolution and H.M.S. Discovery in Resolution Cove on Bligh Island in what is now called Nootka Sound. Coming out by canoe, the local Mowachaht (People of the Deer) First Nation peoples called out "itchme nutka, itchme nutka" meaning to go around. They wanted Cook to go around Bligh Island to their village of Yuquot (Friendly Cove). Cook took the word to be Nootka thinking it was the name of the area. And here it lives on.
