Tofino Symbolism: Local Flora& Fauna

If you cultivate presence, you’ll learn the world is always talking to us. It comes in forms that have always existed; what grows in what soil, the bird that happens to swoop in front of us, the particular shade of seashell found. It comes in more modern ways as well - like angel numbers, tarot cards, and astrology. Some of these themes we’ve touched upon already, but going to the roots is a quintessential Tofino experience.

As land that has been stewarded and tended to since time immemorial, making space to truly witness everything that continues to grow and how it appears to us is nothing short of a miracle - the same miracle that brings us all here on earth today.

Our Tofino Symbolism Guide of Local Flora & Fauna is a way to practice attention while cultivating a personal relationship with the land. We don’t want you to leave having simply visited Tofino when there is space to experience Tofino.

I encourage you to look beyond even the suggestions in this post and cultivate your own meaning behind what shows itself to you. There are endless things to witness and this is but a tip of the iceberg. We’re focusing on a small selection today, but there are thousands of native plants, animals, and minerals that have the same potential to hold meaning.

Before we start, it is important to note that the following symbolism is an interpretation that comes from me, the author of this article. It isn’t meant to override any other meaning nor tell a singular truth about any of what is represented. As always, you are encouraged to do research and find your own meaning alongside ancient wisdom and your own intuition.

How to use the Tofino Symbolism: Local Flora & Fauna Guide:

It’s simple. Spend time in nature, take the trail systems, pay attention to what is in season and what you feel particularly called to. Whether you are looking for something or simply open to what the world around you is trying to show you, slow down and notice what you feel called to.

What touches you? Where do you feel it? What were you thinking about when something made itself known to you? Take a note - whether mental or physical - and let this unfold before you.

I recommend taking a look at the ʔiisaak Pledge before you come to Tofino and learn about how to respect the land, animals, people and community that you will be spending time with. This will give you foundational knowledge and give you a guideline to a deeply authentic Tofitian experience.

The symbolism that is presented is based off the plants, how they grow and what they need more than traditional symbolism associated with them. If you google some of these species, you will get different results! That’s okay, if you feel called to do further research and broaden your scope of knowledge, you are encouraged to do so. 

The Flora & Fauna:

These particular plants are inspired by plants commonly and indigenously found on the land. There is life everywhere around you - sea, sky, forest floor and everywhere in between. If you’re curious about what else there is to look for while you visit you can learn more on Tourism Tofino.

English Daisy (Bellis perennis) 

These flowers are common in Tofino and are often found growing close to the ground. You can find them in places like Pettinger Point and bloom regularly during late spring to early summer. This is a flower that thrives in cooler temperatures and struggle during the heat, and ned consistently moist soil. This makes them a big fan of our coastal weather. You will find them growing together in clusters.

Symbolism of English Daisy

As a flower that doesn’t thrive growing tall or in constant direct sunlight, they serve as a reminder that there is no one way to grow. You don’t need to be the most seen, have the most spotlight, or achieve success on your own. Sometimes it is better to do it together, and that often what feeds us will feed many. Consistency is going to be more valuable than intensity here. In fact, intensity may make you shut down until conditions cool down and feel more manageable.

Leathery Polypody (Polypodium scouleri)

This is a type of fern that thrives in the fog belt and next to the spray of the ocean. You can find it along the coastline, hugging mossy trees. It is more sturdy than the usual fern which prefers the moisture of a forest floor to a coastal salt-water misting. Underneath its leaves, it hosts golden orbs of spores in organized rows. 

Symbolism of Leathery Polypody

You thrive right next to the action. The things that others may hide from or find harsh are a part of what you need to steady yourself and feel alive. It feels like the photographer at the edge of the mosh pit, right next to the intensity of something alive and thriving off the salt-spray from it. Although you are organized and don’t show all your cards right away, you also have what you offer immediately available. Just turn a leaf and you will find endless ideas, sources of inspiration, and projects. This is the kind of energy that feels calm in chaos, and makes living on the edge look easy.

Coastal Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)

Also known as beach strawberry, these little cuties grow low to the ground and cover sandy areas like dunes and sea bluffs. They are edible, and this wild species has been studied by researchers because it is one of the primary parents of todays domestic strawberries we know and love. Other than being cute and delicious, they are an essential part of our ecosystem for erosion control. Their roots running through sandy soil help stabilize the coast from wind and waves and they call in native pollinators during bloom time as well as small mammals during fruiting time. They feed Tofino in many diverse ways.

Symbolism

Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? Ecosystems thrive on multitudes, and while we often want to write off shallow as bad, coastal strawberries teach us that depth isn’t the only way to contribute. They call in a variety of wildlife at different stages, stabilize the land, and look cute with their little white blooms while doing it. The reminder here is that it doesn’t have to go that deep to be impactful. Whatever you have to share or offer doesn’t need to be judged for how big it is or how far into the earth it touches. Everyone has a role to play that is important and can inspire in countless ways - like being a parent to a favourite summer berry we’ve come to love. Even the cutest things have mighty contributions.

Salal Berry (Gaultheria shallon)

This abundant local berry is ready for picking from July through to October. Deep in colour and with significantly higher levels of antioxidants & tannins than a standard blueberry. They grow on stems that are sticky or hairy and can create dense thickets, making them protective of certain spaces and land.

Symbolism

Boundaries are essential to bounty! Darkness is essential to light! These dark berries hold so much nutrients and flavour in them despite their size. Often when we think of duality there is tension or resistance there, but this same tension is what builds bridges and give us something to lean into. Something dense is often something protective, and while this can be seen as invasive in places it isn’t native to, our local environments depend on this to thrive. Not everything belongs everywhere, and knowing what to protect also helps things thrive. Trying to go where you don’t belong may get you stuck. When we honour the guidance nature shows us, we are rewarded with beautiful little gems (and so much more). Yet another reminder that bigger isn’t always better.

Amanitas Mushroom

This family of mushrooms are host to some classic fairytale-esque species like the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) or Panther Cap (Amanita pantherinoides). These mushrooms vary in colours from red to brown and for the most part are highly toxic! Look, but don’t touch. They have an important symbiotic relationship with the root systems of specific trees. They are most common with beech trees but can be found amongst coniferous and deciduous forests and thrive in cooler temperatures. You’ll find them most commonly after heavy cool rains through late summer to early winter. This species is incredibly challenging to grow indoors and sometimes they can take years to establish a fruiting body.

Symbolism

Sometimes what we are drawn to is a warning sign more than a symbolic sign. Nature often does an excellent job at showing us what could hurt us, but it’s easy to get duped by lookalikes. This is a reminder to double check, do your research, and see why something is thriving. When removed from its root system, it is no longer sustainable. Some things thrive due to an incredibly specific set of conditions, often conditions we aren’t able to recreate or that would be harmful to. If something big and bold is being presented to you, look deeper below the surface. What actually makes this work? Allows it to be sustainable? And is it truly giving you what you will need or just making a show of it?

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

This is potentially what Tofino is most famous for and what people who have stewarded this land have worked so hard to protect. These trees stand well over 100 feet and some of them have been around for millennia or two. They are a staple in our temperate rainforest, acting as a home to wildlife, nurse trees that give back essential nutrients to the environment for new things to grow, and are a major contribution to carbon capture from the atmosphere. They are the lungs, mothers, and homes of our land with massive historical and ecological impact.

Symbolism

What serves nature will serve us, and what serves community is worth protecting. Western Red Cedar reminds us to act for more than just ourselves - to consider our part as a whole, to release what is necessary when, and that all energy can be transmuted for growth. When we focus on community as an extension of ourselves, the self naturally grows alongside it. Supporting those you love, staying open to wisdom from elders, and humbling yourself to time will nurture your relationship to everything around you. If you are needing support, consider giving it. If you are aching for growth, consider what you need to release to nourish the soil. Enduring things do not stay alive on their own - the efforts of Meares Island is an excellent example of this. The things worth protecting cannot be renewed overnight, and what they give back cannot be measured. Consider values as a fulcrum point for action rather than profit.