Human Interaction

As first nations tribes were displaced from their territory, other human interactions have occurred in or near Sombrio, including logging, mining, fisheries and a vibrant squatters community. This squatter's community developed in the 1960’s and included a family with eleven children and a herd of goats. Living in a cedar cabin next to Sombrio creek, this family lived within their community with “a sense of place [that brought] together … creativ[ity] … away from the consumer world”(Manly, P. 2006). Living in connection to the natural resources on the beach, the squatters called Sombrio home until 1997 when they were evicted from the beach by the government (Hawthorne, 2006). As the beach was included in the protected park area, government workers were employed to destroy the makeshift homes along the beach (Manly, 2006). Displaced to the town of Port Renfrew, this family struggled with integrating into the community and by 2011 had lost three of their eleven children via accidental deaths (Hawthorne, 2011). As Sombrio’s squatters, including this family, struggled with loss of their connection to place, the integration of Sombrio beach into park land increased access to the space for many other users. With two camping sites along the beach, Sombrio has become a popular destination for campers, hikers and surfers alike. 

Photos retrieved November 3rd 2015, from: http://manlymedia.com/films/sombrio/