Salmon, an icon and backbone of the Pacific Northwest, has a way of bringing people together. Since time immemorial, the salmon has been respected for its strength and selflessness. It is considered a vital and sacred element of the environment, intertwined with healthy landscapes and the cultural identity of many tribes. In the past, salmon were a common and plentiful sight as they migrated upstream to spawn.
However, salmon populations have been rapidly declining for decades, especially in the Snake River where a series of dams block the species’ safe passage. Special guest Chairman Samuel N. Penney spoke about how the Nez Perce Tribe (Nimiipuu) are working to change that. They have been leaders in the fight to breach the four lower Snake River dams, but now more than ever, time is of the essence.
