Young people participating in our recent Salmon Warriors Fall Gathering described it as “the best Salmon Warriors Gathering so far,” emphasizing the safety, support, and inspiration they felt. An Elder, moved to tears, shared the deep significance of planting saplings as part of the riparian restoration work: “I got to plant cottonwood!”
The Fourth Tri-Nation Salmon Warriors Gathering took place at sn’pink’tn October 15–19, 2025. This five-day event brought 19 young adults from the Syilx Okanagan, Secwépemc, and Ktunaxa Nations together with technical and cultural teams. Outcomes included leadership and relationship-building, and renewed commitment to salmon conservation.
The Salmon Warriors worked with the Okanagan Nation Alliance’s Fisheries and Natural Resource teams in hands-on habitat restoration and broodstock management. The group also toured the ONA’s kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ conservation hatchery, deepening their understanding of the life cycle of salmon and Indigenous stewardship.
The gathering also prioritized cultural connection and wellness. Youth engaged in spirit games that sparked laughter and teamwork, while cold plunges fostered resilience and courage. Drumming and singing united participants in ceremony and celebration. Walking the land and visiting the waterways were opportunities for reflection. As one Salmon Warrior expressed, “I want to be able to go to the water throughout this week as a form of self-care.”
Photo for Bringing the Salmon Home by Billie Jean Gabriel
Valuable lessons emerged from these experiences. The young people said they want more opportunities for leadership, creativity, and youth-led gatherings. Elders and Knowledge Keepers emphasized the power of intergenerational work—planting, engaging in ceremony, laughing, and even crying together—to connect the past and present of who we are. Safe, respectful spaces truly transform how people show up: the young people were present, engaged, and kind.
We are reminded that our communities carry many burdens, but gatherings like this offer healing. Restoration is not just about the land and water—it’s about spirit, connection, and community.
Our young people are stepping up, embracing their roles, and understanding they are part of a continuous tradition of stewardship that spans generations. They’re combining technical skills and cultural teachings with workshop facilitation, social media storytelling, and public speaking, using both traditional and modern tools to share our message.
CBC-TV joined us on-site, capturing the spirit of the day as the Salmon Warriors worked with the ONA’s habitat restoration team at nluxʷluxʷɬcwix (Trout Creek). Please see the short video here.
Thank you,
~Bringing the Salmon Home: the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative team
