Thomas Royle

DNA research confirms Tsleil-Waututh’s sustainable fishing practices

By: Yelin Gemma Lee, News Writer SFU archaeology’s ancient DNA lab used their new palaeogenetic analytical techniques to confirm the sustainability and effectiveness of Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s pre-colonial fishing practices. The lab’s research confirms the Tsleil-Waututh Nation was sustainably managing chum salmon by only harvesting male salmon for over 2,000 years.  The Peak interviewed postdoctoral fellow Thomas Royle to learn more about what he discovered in the lab.  “The paleogenetic sex identification method we used is the first genetic method ever developed for the sex identification of ancient fish remains,” said Royle. He said although similar methods have been applied to…

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