Night of the salmon folk

“Our impacts on salmon have reached a critical point – it’s time to build resilience for salmon and people. Environmental change and human impacts across the Northern Hemisphere are placing salmon at risk. The International Year of the Salmon aims to bring people together to share and develop knowledge more effectively, raise awareness and take action.” - International Year of the Salmon 


In one way or another, here in British Columbia and Southeast Alaska we’re all connected to our wild Pacific salmon. This year is the International Year of the Salmon, and Salmon Beyond Borders is celebrating by joining together with salmon communities across the transboundary region to celebrate all that we love about these incredible wild fish — most recently through “Night of the Salmon Folk*,” an event that brought the Victoria, B.C. salmon community together, at Patagonia’s Victoria location. 
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We collaborated on “Night of the Salmon Folk” with Watershed Watch Salmon Society, with additional support from Raincoast Conservation Foundation. The evening was filled with five short films,  presentations from each organization, and a special talk from guest speaker Chief Ernest Alfred of the Nisga’a Nation. His work has been crucial in protecting Pacific salmon populations, and it was an honour to hear from him and have him attend the event. ​

The films highlighted a variety of issues facing wild salmon and the habitat they rely on. Topics ranged from fisheries policy, to habitat development, to — of course — mining policy in B.C. Wild salmon issues in British Columbia and the transboundary region are multifaceted and complex, and it was wonderful to talk with many new people on these issues, as well as to discuss ways to individually and collectively take action in our own communities. We all come from a diversity of backgrounds, but all of us present were united by our love for and connection with wild salmon. 
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The films shown were: 

• Year of the Salmon, by International year of the Salmon 
• Salmon is Life, by Troy Moth and Salmon Beyond Borders
• Talok Fisheries, by Babine Lake Nation and Watershed Watch Salmon Society
• Chasing Wild, by Wild Confluence and Salmon Beyond Borders 
• Patagonia Provisions, by Patagonia 

Some of you may have seen Chasing Wild, the film we presented, which is about a team that sets out to understand what is at stake as a massive wave of new mines are developed across Northwest B.C. — and what that wave could mean for wild salmon populations.
After the films there was an opportunity for attendees to mingle, sign on to actions or get involved by volunteering. We were thrilled to meet so many interesting people who were not familiar with the issues facing B.C. and Alaska’s shared, internationally important transboundary rivers, but were eager to learn more.
We asked attendees what wild salmon means to them throughout the evening, and Amelia and Luca, attendees pictured below, said “thriving orca populations and clean, healthy ecosystems!” Other responses ranged from tradition, to food, to health, and even to LIFE! Salmon are truly an important species worth defending. Thanks to everyone who enjoyed the evening with us!
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Stay tuned for another Salmon Folk event in Vancouver! In the meantime, keep up with Salmon Beyond Borders’ events and actions on our community page!

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*We acknowledge, with respect, our presence on unceded Coast Salish territory of the Lekwungen and WSANEC people, the original salmon folk of this region, whose relationship with this land and these salmon stretches back thousands of years.


Thanks for reading, 

Sierra Harvey 
BC Organizer 

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