Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative

Posted by Michalina Hunter on February 18, 2021

bringing the salmon home

Indigenous-Led Vision

Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative is an Indigenous-led collaboration of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, Ktunaxa Nation, Secwépemc Nation, Canada and British Columbia. Salmon have been blocked from returning to the Canadian portion of the upper Columbia River for more than 80 years. The long-term vision is to return salmon stocks for Indigenous food, social and ceremonial needs, and to benefit the region’s residents and ecosystems as a whole. Learn more about this Initiative…

Indigenous Rights and Responsibility

Reintroducing salmon concerns Indigenous rights and responsibility. This Initiative is located in unceded Indigenous territories. Life-altering losses caused by the dams that block salmon passage have been felt foremost by the Indigenous Nations, who were excluded from Columbia River Treaty decision-making at the outset. The three Indigenous Nations uphold their sacred responsibility to reintroduce the salmon, continuing to work with their US Tribal relations and other stakeholders and allies along the river. Meet our five partner governments…

Finding Solutions Together

Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative offers new beginnings while acknowledging the past. It prompts necessary reflection and action to support self-determination and decolonization. It proposes early steps towards understanding what reconciliation requires. Of working collaboratively through an Indigenous-centred process that includes all basin residents. Of finding solutions to complex challenges through traditional Indigenous knowledge and western science, cultural renewal and technological ingenuity. This is vital work that calls on the inspiration and commitment of present and future generations.  Everyone can help in some way to bring the salmon home to the upper Columbia River region.  Please join us!

Featured Artists

An artist from each Indigenous Nation has contributed an original salmon design to the unified logo for Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative. See the beautiful designs created by Darcy Luke, Ktunaxa Nation, Kelsey Jules, Secwépemc Nation, and Spirit Peoples, Syilx Okanagan Nation. Featured artists… 

Visit the new Bringing the Salmon Home website at ColumbiaRiverSalmon.ca

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bringing the salmon home