History

Burns Bog was used by First Nations people for thousands of years. The specific groups that have been identified as having a connection to Burns Bog include the Tsawwassen, Semiahmoo, Sto:lo, Katzie, and Musqueam First Nations. The bog produced an abundant supply of blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, and salal berries, and would have been an important source of food for people in the region. There are many medicinal plants in Burns Bog, such as Labrador tea, western bog-laurel, sundew, and Sphagnum moss. Hunting was also common in Burns Bog, particularly for Black Bear, Black-tailed Deer, elk, and perhaps ducks.

There are legends from the Tsawwassen First Nation of an underground channel that flowed from the Strait of Georgia into the centre of Burns Bog, which was believed to be inhabited by monsters that would drag people down into the peat. The stories talk about people being lost at sea and then showing up in the middle of the bog. It is possible that underground waterways did flow through the wetland that developed into Burns Bog, and could have connected the bog to the ocean or Fraser River. The peat in Burns Bog is like quicksand in places, and it is very likely that people could have become trapped and sunk into the peat.

During the Burns Bog Ecosystem Review, the Tsawwassen, Semiahmoo, and Sto:lo First Nations indicated that Burns Bog is extremely important in terms of cultural, archaeological, traditional, and current uses. These groups also indicated that conservation of the Burns Bog area is important to them. Several First Nations highlighted the importance of conducting an archaeological assessment of the Burns Bog area. The oldest known archaeological site near Burns Bog is called Glenrose, after the Glenrose cannery. The site is located under the Alex Fraser Bridge in North Delta, and is estimated to be 4,500 years old.

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