Return of the SalmonPart 1

Stefanie Clarice Colliton

Project Focus

Learn more about Olympic National Park

Individual Focus Cultural renewal of the

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

Dam Removal Ceremony

• September 2011• Extremely emotional, passionate

Why I Chose This Project

• Current events story • Interesting historical event to explore• Guiding Question

How will the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe experience cultural renewal with the return of

salmon in the Elwha River?

Plan of Action

• Research• Stakeholder Interviews • ONPVC Library• Personal Interviews

with LEKT classmates• Newspaper articles

Stakeholder Interview

• Tim McNulty• Prominent Olympic Peninsula poet

and nature writer• Article for Voice of the Wild Olympics

• Very, very pleased in the restoration • Impressed with the ecological bounce back• Scientists predicted it would take 30 years for complete Elwha

ecosystem restoration• Complete restoration should take less time • Scientists are incredibly impressed

Stakeholder Interview

• Greg Marsh• Interpretative Ranger with

Olympic National Park• Historically salmon are controversial– Fishing rights

• scientists still piecing information together – salmon-fueled spirit, cultures, minds, and body– salmon are unfathomably vital to the tribe

Stakeholder Interview• Jamie Valadez• Klallam Language teacher at PAHS• Voice of Elwha River Restoration

• Cultural renewal• Klallam dictionary• Elwha River vital to Klallam Tribe• Dams had negative impact on salmon• Dam removal allows traditions to return– Fishing, beliefs and oral histories reaffirmed

What I Knew Before

• Was curious:– Elwha dam removal was a

historical event• Largest in history

– Culture shared through storytelling

– Klallam youth • Only familiar with culture

through stories• Not as familiar with the importance

of salmon

What I Now Know

• Realized not only youth, but several generations affected by dams

• Salmon are essential to the Elwha ecosystem– Marine derived nutrients - entire park

• Cultural Renewal• Importance of a watershed• Gradual renewal of Mother Watershed

Elwha River Watershed

• Largest in ONP

• Drains one-fifth of the park

• All 5 species of local pacific salmon

Historical Archeological Information

• Radiocarbon dating suggest– ~7420 years ago– Well established trade routes

with British Columbia natives

Elwha River restoration has contributed to a better understanding of when, where and how people have used the watershed for millennia.

Discovery of the Creation Site

• Feel the power of the rock

• No words to express the feeling

• Overwhelming

Article – Go Fish

• Honored to write and publish an article• Always been interested in journalism• Professional experience:– Deadlines– Communication– Reliability

Reflection

• Project highlighted my strengths• Unsure about life beyond high school• Direction with the AmeriCorps opportunity

Now understand the vitality of the salmon to the ecosystems and the fascinating and deep history of the Klallam People and Elwha River.

Conclusion• Answer to my question• Words of Adeline Smith after Creation Site was

discovered

“I no longer have to hold back what was told to me by my ancestors, the creation site “is no longer a mystery.” “The freeing of the river around it, after all, is a revelation to the young.”“Things are opening up, we can see where we stand.”

New QuestionHow long will it take for complete ecosystem restoration?

Acknowledgements

• Jamie Valadez• LEKT students• Dan Lieberman• Tim McNulty• Greg Marsh • Tara Morrow• Parents• Courtney (aka Starr Glitz)

• salmon …and the academy

Questions?

COPYRIGHT: Joel Rogers joelrgers.com