Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the launch of the Bringing the Salmon Home Transboundary Tour with events centred around the headwaters of the Columbia River in the East Kootenays, on May 24-25, 2024.
The Bringing the Salmon Home Transboundary Tour is designed to advance ceremonial, cultural, and technical exchange with US Tribes and allies all along this One Great River.
Enjoy the following photo highlights from launch events:
Members of the Secwépemc, Ktunaxa, and Syilx Okanagan Nations join together to begin a ceremonial salmon fry release in Invermere. A series of annual springtime ceremonial salmon fry releases are held throughout the upper Columbia region, with salmon fry provided by the Syilx Okanagan Nation’s kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ hatchery. (Photo: T. Marshall)
The Tri-Nation ceremonial salmon fry release in Invermere on Friday May 24th drew a large crowd. Children and adults were invited to take turns releasing salmon fry into the lake waters, while eagles soared overhead. (Photo: Jeremy Williams)
Executive Working Group Chair and Shuswap Band Salmon Chief Mark Thomas and Host Secretariat Administrator Suiki?st Pauline Terbasket welcome Yakama Nation Tribal Council members Brian Saluskin and Deland Ray Olney. Special guests from US Tribes also included Colville Tribal Business Council Representative Steve Carson, and Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Vice Chair Mary Jane Miles. (Photo: T. Marshall)
Tour launch events on Friday May 24th included the unveiling of a beautiful Bringing the Salmon Home mural by Ktunaxa artist Darcy Lake at ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation, Windermere. (Photo: T. Marshall)
Darcy Luke (second from left, with her husband and their daughter) was assisted in painting the huge mural by Elijah Lezard (second from right). Implementation Team and Indigenous Knowledge Counsel member Vickie Thomas presented a commemorative sign that will be mounted with the mural. (Photo: T. Marshall)
Over 300 people enjoyed Transboundary Tour launch events on Saturday May 25th, featuring a full day of special presentations, cultural performances, and a salmon feast, overlooking the Columbia River wetlands at Raven’s Nest just north of Fairmont Hot Springs. (Photo: T. Marshall)
Enthusiastic performances by the young Columbia River Hoop Dancers were a big hit. (Photo: Jeremy Williams)
MC Mark Thomas recognizes the creative work of Bringing the Salmon Home logo artists Kelsey Jules, Spirit Peoples, and Darcy Luke (Darcy’s chinook design is held in her place by Cisco Luke-Jimmy). Spirit Peoples handcrafted these beautiful life size soft-bodied salmon, based on each artist’s design, to accompany the tour all along the river. The salmon sculptures in front of the stage were created by the team at Selkirk College’s Innovation Centre. (Photo: Jeremy Williams)
Ktunaxa Elder Alfred Joseph on the ridge above the upper Columbia River wetlands. (Photo: T. Marshall)
Launch presentations included reports by the Technical Working Group, and, in this photo, the Indigenous Knowledge Counsel, including Vickie Thomas (with her grandson), IKC Chair Chad Eneas, Clifford Dorion, Rhona Bowe, Fred Fortier, and Dixon Terbasket. (Not pictured – Marty Williams.) (Photo: T. Marshall)
The Tri-Nation Salmon Warriors contributed great energy to the success of events both on and off stage. The group of Salmon Warriors included, from left: Maria Alexis, Seth Christopher, Martina Escutin, Brianna Wilson, Morgan Rashke, Serenity Baptiste, Ivy John, Lisa Kenoras. (Photo: T. Marshall)
Cultural performances included beautiful songs and dances by the Nakulamen Collective, from left: Billie Kruger, Aimee Lezard, Jennifer Squakim. (Video frame: Britt Bates)
Salmon stories were shared by Elders and Knowledge Keepers from the three Nations. Pictured here, from left: cewel’na (Leon Louis), David Archie, Julianne Peters, Warren Rain. (Photo: T. Marshall)
Transboundary Tour Launch co-hosts Rosalie Yazzie (Implementation Team Chair) and Mark Thomas (EWG Chair). The Secwépemc Nation presented a knobby ball game set to each of the Syilx Okanagan and Ktunaxa Nations, along with the challenge to meet again in a year for a match. (Photo: T. Marshall)
The first official tour stop following the weekend launch included discussions with high school students, followed by a packed Bringing the Salmon Home community film screening at Golden Secondary School on Monday May 27th.
A series of Transboundary Tour activities are being planned along the river over the coming year under the banner “It takes a river of people to bring the salmon home.”
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Thank you!
~Bringing the Salmon Home: the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative
