Welcome!

Welcome to the website that I did not want to create. No, really. 48 hours ago, I did not know how to create a website or think I'd ever want to. I want people to ask me about salmon, and I want to talk about salmon, but I did not want to do it through a screen. I want to talk about it creekside with a preschooler while we look at a splashing fish. Or on a walk in the woods finding the cutest little mushrooms popping out of a Douglas Fir cone while we swish our feet through Big Leaf Maple leaves. Or on a beach while we watch a heron gulp down a forage fish from the eel grass. Or sitting somewhere cozy drinking dandelion root tea. Or...you get the idea.

My original idea was to create a fun resource for the families at my neighborhood preschool - seasonal salmon related activities that would be fun for kids and easy for parents. I was thinking some kind of handout and activity kit. I wanted it to be something people could hold in their hands and interact with. Then the ideas I wanted to include started growing and growing. And I thought, what if I shared it with other preschools? Or more people? The problem, which is a frequent problem for me, is that I am only one person, and one person can't do all the things that I want to do or be more than one place at once. Bummer.

Aside from wanting everyone to Ask Me About Salmon, this guide is part of my service project for Midsound Fisheries Community Action Training School. Following a viewing of Fish War, our class had a Q&A with Puyallup tribal elder and fisheries policy representative, Rodney Sisson. I asked Rodney what non-native people should be doing to protect salmon. His answer, in short, was teach. Learn about salmon and bring what you have learned to the people. Teach. ❤️ Well, that is what I love, so if bringing my stewardship ideas to a website can solve my "I'm only one person" problem, I guess I'm doing it. So here I am.

That physical kit of acitivies is still happening. If you attend my school, you will be able to borrow it. I'm making a list of items so anyone can recreate one. I can still print you a google doc of acitivity ideas :) If you know me in real life, I really hope you will meet me at Carkeek during salmon spawning season or at the imprint pond in the spring. Wherever you find this blog, I hope you will take these ideas off the screen and have fun with them with your family.

In joy, gratitude and waterproof shoes,

T'igwicid

Becky

P.S. Did you know you can put water bottle stickers on your rain boots?

My salmon sticker is from Seabolt Originals Etsy shop. Save our Salmon sticker is from Austin's Awesome Art Co Etsy Shop. I love Seabolt's beautiful salmon design, and I can't think of a better message than Austin's "the salmon here are in your care"