2023 Salish Sea Institute Newsletter

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Happy Holidays from the Salish Sea Institute!

As we approach winter solstice, it seems fitting to share a recent map by Aquila Flower, one of our Salish Sea Fellows. She made 30 different maps as part of a challenge last month. Follow her on LinkedIn and see all 30 maps.

Map of Salish Sea at Night on a green background surrounded by holiday lights

Salish Sea at Night (Aquila Flower, 2023)

From the Director

Happy Holiday Season! We send our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has interacted with us this year. Whether you attended a webinar, read one of our publications, made a donation, took one of our classes, or followed us on social media, you’ve demonstrated that the work of this Institute is valuable to you and to the regional community. We appreciate your involvement and support. Year end donations happily accepted!

Donate HERE!

New Publication in our Emerging Issues Series!

Using Ethnohistoric Data to Correct Historical Ecological Baselines: Urbanization and the Collapse of Forage Fish in Vancouver

The Salish Sea Institute is releasing the fourth paper in our Emerging Issues in the Salish Sea series. Written by Jesse Morin, Blake Evans and Meaghan Efford, this issue focuses on how recent historical fisheries records are a pale reflection of the former abundance that was harvested by Coast Salish peoples, like the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge into modern management plans in order to provide the best conservation measures for a species.

Cover of the paper showing a view from the top of Indian Arm looking south towards Burrard Inlet.

Download a free copy!

Announcing our Second Call for Fellows!

We had an amazing first cohort of fellows last year and are excited to announce the call for our next round! Fellows of the Salish Sea Institute will conduct research projects and share knowledge of current challenges and opportunities for managing and protecting the Salish Sea and participate in cohort activities. We welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds including professors, postdoctoral researchers, advanced PhD candidates, knowledge holders, public agency and Tribal/First Nation government employees and investigative journalists.

Learn more about the program and apply!

Salish Sea themed Speaker Series starts in January!

Photos of Salish Sea Winter Speaker Series speakers with their name and talk topic

The Environmental Speaker Series, at WWU's College of the Environment, presents topics of environmental concern for the WWU and Bellingham communities. The Salish Sea Institute is proud to partner with them to make it Salish Sea themed during the winter quarter!

Talks are Thursdays at 4:30 pm PT, on a wide variety of topics, but all set within the Salish Sea. The class is held on campus, and also live streamed for off campus audiences. The series is open to the public.

See more info and how to sign up!

Updates to the Salish Sea Studies Curriculum Repository

Curriculum repository resources

This repository began as a joint venture with the Salish Sea Institute’s Salish Sea Studies minor at WWU, Whatcom Community College’s (WCC) Salish Sea Studies program, and the WCC Library. It is a collection of open educational resources for use in place-based, experiential, multidisciplinary, and transboundary teaching and learning in the Salish Sea.

With support of Title VI grant funds through the Center for Canadian-American studies, WWU student Bianca Custer, joined WWU and WCC librarians in their work to improve the metadata that drives the repository aiding in better discoverability and utilization of the available resources.

Access the repository!

Salish Sea Studies Minor Continues to Grow

The Salish Sea Institute started a Salish Sea Studies minor at WWU in 2019. The minor invites students to critically examine the complex issues involved with the conservation of a transboundary ecosystem. We want them to build meaningful connections across borders, disciplines, and systems to help bring to life an environmentally healthy and just future for the Salish Sea.

It’s a multi-disciplinary minor focused on place-based learning with 36 currently enrolled students (we started with 4 in 2019). We have already graduated 28 students, with 7 more on track to graduate this year!