Chapters 2.11
2.11.Swans
Gibbings Ava , University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Ava,G. (2022) Birds. In The Student Encyclopedia of Canadian Indigenous Foods. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.firstnationsfoods.org/
Introduction
The native swans of Canada, the Trumpeter and Tundra swan, have been consumed by Indigenous communities for decades (Scott, 1991). It was a primary source of protein in their diets but is now illegal to hunt due to bylaws disclosing swans as ‘protected animals’ (Wein & Freeman, 1995). Swans are found throughout the country, and could offer Canadians an entirely new, and available, source of protein if hunted properly.
Historical Background
The tundra and trumpeter swans (Cygnus columbianus and C. buccinator) are the two species of swans’ native to Canada and are directly connected to the Indigenous communities (Cooch, 2006). Records from the 1700s claim swan has been a traditional food source within Indigenous communities’ diets (Wein & Freeman, 1995). The specific cultures known for the consumption of tundra swan include Tlingit, Sahtu, and Inuit, and the trumpeter swan was commonly recognized in the Photo: (Edicions, 2020) diets of Nootka, Coast Salish, Nuxálk, Gitksan, and Tahltan communities (Kuhnlein, n.d.). As non-Aboriginals began to settle in Canada, the practice of swan hunting/consumption continued (Wein & Freeman, 1995). Specifically, French immigrants and Native Canadians – known as Metis – sustained the custom (Scott, 1991).
The reason there was such a great divide of which groups hunted Photo: (Edicions, 2020)which species of swan is because of the migration and breeding methods the birds adopted (Laurel, 1989). This resulted in tundra swans more heavily populated in the Northern regions, and the trumpeter swan located in the coastal regions and near the Great Lakes (Kuhnlein, n.d.). In warmer months, the Northern group, “Inuvialuit”, traveled along the Northern Coast of British Columbia, which allowed them to also hunt trumpeter swans as well as tundra swans (Scott, 1991). The swan population began to drastically decrease in the late 1990s, which is when conservation laws were passed, in order to sustain the populations (Wein & Freeman, 1995).
Geographical Origins
The two species of swans, tundra and trumpeter, generally tend to search for undisturbed bodies of water to breed and create their nests for hatching (Laurel, 1989). Since swans’ main food source is aquatic vegetation, they prefer shallow shorelines that allow for easy access for nearby plants, either beside or below the water (Mute swan feeding, n.d.). Swans build their nests on land, either on small islands, beaver dams, or at the edge of wetlands (Laurel, 1989). This allows for an easy retrieval of eggs and nesting birds by the Indigenous cultures (Kuhnlein, n.d.).
During migration, swans would gather at large, deep bodies of water before travelling south (Laurel, 1989). On the journey, they would break at wetlands, vegetative field, or wide rivers in lower provinces (Laurel, 1989). This allowed for more southern communities to have a chance at swan hunting (Kuhnlein n.d.).
Cultural Significance
Swans have been integrated in both Indigenous and British cultures for decades, with different beliefs within each culture (Native American Swan Mythology, 1998). In Aboriginal cultures, swans were used to make masks for ceremonies or ethnic celebrations (Kuhnlein, n.d.).
Arctic Indigenous communities had thought that the swan’s spirit was connected to healing properties (Kuhnlein, n.d.). Yukon tribes would have girls drink from swan wings when they reached puberty to aid with easy pregnancies and mindset growth (Kuhnlein, n.d.). In Native cultures, the swan signifies beauty, elegance, harmony, and spirituality; these traits are often used in storytelling and are in correlation to desired women (Native American Swan Mythology, 1998). In British cultures, swans are a significance of tranquility and nobility, and families of royalty would eat them for meals of celebration (Cleaver, 2017).
Nutritional Benefits
As a result of eating swans being illegal, the closest animal in comparison is duck (Shaw, 2020) . It is described as dark, tender, mild, and clean tasting (Shaw, 2020) The compared duck meat contains high protein, iron, omega-3, omega-6, magnesium, and fat (Health and Social Services, n.d.). Swan eggs were also commonly consumed, which can be compared to duck eggs (Shaw, 2020). Duck eggs have an excellent source of vitamin B (riboflavin, B12), vitamin A, vitamin D, omega-3 fats, folate, protein, and iron (Health and Social Services, n.d.).
Vitamin B is good for the growth of hair, skin, nerves, and muscles (Health and Social Services, n.d.). Vitamin A is important for vision, cell division, reproduction, and immunity (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020). To absorb calcium and phosphorus, building bone, and control infections, vitamin D is very helpful (Harvard Public Health Clinic Staff, 2022).
Preparation & Consumption
Swans were prepared and eating differently, depending on the culture (Kuhnlein n.d.). Conventionally, the bird was either burned or boiled, and the feathers were removed, as well as the insides (Kuhnlein, n.d.). Swans were either eaten freshly cooked, half dried, or fully dried. (Kuhnlein, n.d.). This depended on the amount of food available, the season, and edible preference (Kuhnlein, n.d.). For the swan meat to be dried, the bare body would be hung or laid to be smoked in a ‘smokehouse’ (Kuhnlein, n.d.). In the arctic, swan carcasses could be found in permafrost pits, to store the body until it was able to be eaten (Kuhnlein, n.d.).
Not only did the bird supply meat, it also supplied bones, feathers, and beaks (Kuhnlein, n.d.). These were always used for clothing, weaponry, kitchenware, or other miscellaneous uses (Kuhnlein, n.d.).
Limitations
Like hunting any other animal, there are always limitations that constrict for population regulation, or the fact that animals migrate, and don’t stay in regions all year-round (Laurel, 1989). Swans are migrating birds, which means they fly southern for the winters, which are especially harsh in Canada (Laurel, 1989). A limitation that resulted from this would that a main food source of Indigenous communities would become sparse in the winter months of the year (Laurel, 1989).
Another limitation to hunting swans is the difficult techniques used to capture the bird (Kuhnlein, n.d.). It was recorded that swans would either be caught with nets or snares, which are often hard to set up, or in the dark from a canoe (Kuhnlein, n.d.). Swans have the ability to fly from predators, so the action of retrieval had to be precise and accurate in order to kill the bird (Kuhnlein, n.d.).
The final limitation of eating swan is the fact that it has been a protected animal in many parts of the world, including most provinces in Canada (Wein & Freeman, 1995). In 1977, the Government of Canada passed a law, “Migratory Birds Convention Act”, restricting the consumption and harvesting of waterfowl, including swans (Wein & Freeman, 1995). This was because of the extreme population decrease of both swan species, bringing them to near extinction in Canada.
References
1.Cleaver, E. (2017, July 31). The fascinating, regal history behind Britain's Swans. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/fascinating-history-british-thrones-swans-180964249/
2.Cooch, F. (2006, February 7). Swan. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/swan
3.Edicions, L. (2020). Distribution of the Tundra Swan. Birds of the World. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved from https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/tunswa/cur/introduction?__hstc=75100365.74a37cfdbd08eb8ae629508e07ead093.1668201007068.1668201007068.1668638490310.2&__hssc=75100365.2.1668638490310&__hsfp=3897081607&_gl=1*1xcytbk*_ga*MTUwMDg4MTM1MC4xNjY4MjAxMDA2*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY2ODYzODQ4OS40LjEuMTY2ODYzODg1Ni4xNi4wLjA.
4.Edicions, L. (2020). Distribution of the Trumpeter Swan. Birds of the World. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved from https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/tunswa/cur/introduction?__hstc=75100365.74a37cfdbd08eb8ae629508e07ead093.1668201007068.1668201007068.1668638490310.2&__hssc=75100365.2.1668638490310&__hsfp=3897081607&_gl=1*1xcytbk*_ga*MTUwMDg4MTM1MC4xNjY4MjAxMDA2*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY2ODYzODQ4OS40LjEuMTY2ODYzODg1Ni4xNi4wLjA.
5.Harvard Public Health Clinic Staff. (2022, November 7). Vitamin D. The Nutrition Source. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d/
6.Health and Social Services. (n.d.). Duck. Government of Northwest Territories. Retrieved from https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/nutritional-food-fact-sheet-series/duck
7.Kuhnlein, H. V. (n.d.). Traditional animal foods of indigenous peoples of northern North America. Swans | Traditional Animal Foods of Indigenous Peoples of Northern North America - Animals - Birds - Waterfowl. Retrieved from http://traditionalanimalfoods.org/birds/waterfowl/page.aspx?id=6458
8.Laurel, M.D. (1989). Longevity Records of North American Birds. Journal of Field Ornithology. 53(2), 81-124. Retrieved from https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/longevity/longvrec.cfm
9.Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020, November 13). Vitamin A. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-a/art-20365945
10.Mute swan feeding. The RSPB. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/mute-swan/feeding/
11.Native american swan mythology. Native American Indian Swan Legends, Meaning and Symbolism from the Myths of Many Tribes. (1998). Retrieved from http://www.native-languages.org/legends-swan.htm
12.Scott, E.M., (1991). Who Ate What? Archaeological Food Remains and Cultural Diversity. Environmental Archaeology, 18, 357-371. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-0-387-71303-8_18.pdf
13.Shaw, H. (2020, May 18). Hunting and cooking swans. Hunter Angler Gardener Cook. Retrieved from https://honest-food.net/on-eating-swans/
14.Wein, E. E., & Freeman, M. M. R. (1995). Frequency of Traditional Food Use by Three Yukon First Nations Living in Four Communities. Arctic, 48(2), 161–171. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40511640