Salish Sea Curriculum Repository

Items

• Water We Call Home online exhibition

  Re-presencing Indigenous women’s connections to fish, water, and family around the Salish Sea
  

• Coal in the Puget Sound Region

  Essay detailing the history of how railroad expansion and Washington coal mines for fuel and export shaped the economy and society of the Puget Sound. The essay also contains historical photographs from coal mines.

• Sea Level Rise in the South Salish Sea

  ArcGIS StoryMap by Squaxin Island Tribe of sea level rise in the South Salish Sea.

• Restoring a River of Life

  ArcGIS StoryMap by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the Middle Fork Nooksack River Diversion Dam near Deming, Washington, a source of drinking water for the City of Bellingham. It discusses public and private partnerships for dam removal that would benefit wildlife (like salmon, steelhead, and bull trout migration) and people.

• Marine and Nearshore Restoration Projects - Playing An Essential Role In Conserving The Salish Sea

  ArcGIS StoryMap by Northwest Straits Foundation about the projects Derelict Gear Removal (like crab pots, fishing nets, and shoreline armor) and Shore Friendly (and the Landowner Outreach Program), which restore beach and marine habitat.

• Researching and Restoring Nearshore Habitat in the Strait of Georgia

  ArcGIS StoryMap by the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project shows the research of factors impacting the survival of juvenile salmon and steelhead in the Salish Sea for better recovery and management. It discusses the importance of eelgrass meadows and bull kelp habitat, the impact of climate change, and restoration efforts.

• Northwest Photograph Collection

  Seattle Public Library presents a collection of historic photographs of Washington State locations like the Olympic Peninsula, Mount Rainier, Deception Pass, Bellingham, Tacoma and Eastern Washington.

• The Birch Bay Water & Sewer District Through the Years: Water Unites Us

  ArcGIS map series of the history, timeline, and future of the Birch Bay, Washington water and sewer district.

• Sen̓áḵw

  Website describing the Squamish Nation's sustainable economic development and design project on Sen̓áḵw Lands, a Squamish Village location that was located where Vancouver City, British Colombia is today. The project focuses on reconciliation and Squamish leadership with climate, urban development, and economic development.

• Ala Wai Flood Risk Management Project

  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website page providing details on the Ala Wai Flood Risk Management Project and overview, location, flooding impact, and flood risk of the Ala Wai Watershed.

• Bellingham Working Waterfront

• Making Room: A Transitional Tiny Home Community

  ArcGIS StoryMap of a community-based participatory research project in Victoria, British Columbia by the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, Island Health, and University of Victoria. It is dedicated to spreading awareness about site-supportive transitional housing and breaking the cycle of houselessness.

• Musqueam Place Names Map

  Interactive map of Musqueam Territory place names with historical photographs, audio from Musqueam’s oral history collection, and a children’s place names book. Vancouver, British Columbia is seated on Musqueam Territory.

• NWIC Cooperative Extension

  Vimeo profile for the Northwest Indian College Cooperative Extension in Bellingham, Washington, who provides community education on topics including Financial Literacy for Native American families, Traditional Plants and Foods, Cultural Arts, professional development, and health and wellness activities.

• GRuB

  Vimeo profile for the nonprofit organization GRuB (Garden-Raised Bounty) who brings people together with food and agriculture and creates partnerships with youth and people with low-incomes for empowering individual & community food solutions.

• Accomplices Not Allies: Abolishing the Ally Industrial Complex

  Indigenous Action Media article argues that the concept of allyship is increasingly commodified and exploited in ways that benefit off the struggles they say to support. The article discusses the term accomplice as an alternative to ally.

• Federal Judge George Boldt issues historic ruling affirming Native American treaty fishing rights on February 12, 1974.

  Essay about the Boldt Decision, which reaffirmed the rights of tribes in Washington state to fish in accustomed locations. The essay elaborates on the movement to reassert fishing rights through “fish-ins” in the Puyallup River let by Robert Satiacum and Billy Frank Jr.

• Tied US Supreme Court decision means Washington must remove barriers to salmon migration

  Seattle Times article on the result of the 9th Circuit ruling to leave in place a lower court order requiring state governments to pay for the removal of culverts blocking fish migration. The decision is a victory for recognizing Treaty-protected fishing rights and salmon recovery in Washington State.

• Treaty of Point Elliott, 1855

  The complete text of the Point Elliott Treaty, signed by Isaac Stevens, Governor of Washington Territory, and by Duwamish Chief Seattle, Snoqualmie Chief Patkanim, Lummi Chief Chow-its-hoot, and other chiefs, subchiefs, and delegates of tribes, bands, and villages.

• Explainer: What’s an Environmental Impact Statement?

  The Urbanist article defining an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and how it is used as a decision-making tool. The article explains concepts like alternatives, elements, criteria, scoping, public outreach. It also provides advice on how to read an EIS for content and comment.

• Where is the Salish Sea?

  ArcGIS StoryMap of the geography of the Salish Sea Bioregion, containing maps and facts about the bioregion, the Coast Salish peoples, waters and islands, watersheds, and more data resources.

• The 13 Moons of the Wsanec

  List for curriculum lesson by Gary Fletcher from the booklet “The Saanich Year” by Earle Claxton and John Elliott. Calendars of the 13 Moons of the Wsanec (Saanich people) are listed with information, connections, background, weather, and economic activities related to each.

• Samish 13 Moons

  ArcGIS StoryMap of the Samish calendars with a lunar year of 13 moons in one Xws7ámesh Schel7óneng (Samish year). It provides information of the traditions and seasonal plants of the moons in Chents’ólheng Season (Winter), Chenqw’íles Season (Spring), Chenkw’á7les Season (Summer), and Píxwel Season (Fall).

• Hostile Waters: Orcas in Peril

  The Seattle Times story series on the struggle of northern and southern resident killer whales (orcas) in the Puget Sound. Articles discuss salmon decline, the impact of ships, climate change, and other human impacts on orca population.

• Alphabet | Halq'eméylem | FirstVoices

  Resource on Halq'eméylem (Halkomelem) alphabet, with sections on words, phrases, songs, and stories. Halkomelem is a language of the Salishan language family and is spoken by the Stó:lō Nation (sometimes written ''Stó:lô'' or ''Stó:lõ'', historically as ''Staulo'’), who inhabit the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada.

• Salmon Habitat Restoration in the Lower Fraser River

  ArcGIS StoryMap by Pacific Salmon Foundation presents information on salmon habitat restoration in the Lower Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. It discusses the state of salmon habitats, salmon populations, ecological and human well-being, habitat restoration, and community-based restoration.

• Native Land Digital

  Resource and app to help map and learn about Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages, and ways of life. It contains global mapping and educational resources.

• Aboriginal Rights

  Indigenous Foundations at the University of British Columbia describes Aboriginal rights. It defines the term and provides information about the history of Aboriginal rights and the Crown, how the court system is addressing Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal rights as inherent, and Aboriginal perspectives on government-defined Aboriginal rights.

• Aboriginal Title

  Indigenous Foundations at the University of British Columbia presents information on Aboriginal Title. It defines the term and provides information about a history of the Crown & Aboriginal Title, Aboriginal Title in British Columbia, Aboriginal understandings of title, and what Aboriginal Title means for private property interests.

• Treaty Texts - Douglas Treaties

  The Government of Canada presents texts of the Douglas Treaties signed with fourteen Indigenous tribes on Vancouver Island. Texts include Teechamitsa Tribe - Country lying between Esquimalt and Point Albert; Kosampsom Tribe - Esquimalt Peninsula and Colquite Valley; Swengwhung Tribe - Victoria Peninsula; South of Colitz, Chilcowitch Tribe - Point Gonzales; Whyomilth Tribe - North-West of Esquimalt Harbour; Che-ko-nein Tribe - Point Gonzales to Cedar Hill; Ka-ky-aakan Tribe - Metchosin; Chewhaytsum Tribe - Sooke; Sooke Tribe - North-West of Sooke Inlet; Saanich Tribe - South Saanich; Saanich Tribe - North Saanich; Queackar Tribe - Fort Rupert; Quakeolth Tribe - Fort Rupert; and Saalequun Tribe - Nanaimo.

• Sparrow Case

  Indigenous Foundations at the University of British Columbia presents information on the Supreme Court of Canada R v. Sparrow [1990] decision. It discusses the history of the Case, the “Sparrow test,” and governmental infringement on Aboriginal rights.

• Aboriginal Fisheries in British Columbia

  Indigenous Foundations at the University of British Columbia presents information on Aboriginal fishing since time immemorial, Coast Salish harvesting methods, the introduction of canneries and a wage-based economy, the creation of an Aboriginal “food fishery,” and Aboriginal fisheries in the courts (Sparrow, Van der Peet, etc.).

• Guerin Case

  Indigenous Foundations at the University of British Columbia presents information on the Supreme Court of Canada R v. Guerin [1984] decision. It discusses the Canadian government’s fiduciary duty (a trust-like relationship) to First Nations, Aboriginal rights, and Aboriginal title.

• Ancient Forest Alliance Homepage

  The non-profit organization Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) website. AFA works to protect Vancouver, British Columbia’s endangered old-growth forests and to ensure a sustainable, value-added, second-growth forest industry.

• Raincoast Conservation Foundation | Informed advocacy

  The Raincoast Conservation Foundation website. Raincoast is a team of scientists and conservationists empowered by their research to safeguard the land, waters, and wildlife of coastal British Columbia, Canada. They investigate coastal species, inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities, and inspire action.

• Stand.earth

  The Stand.earth website. Stand.earth delivers large-scale solutions to climate and environmental problems worldwide by using research, building equitable power with frontline communities, and leveraging mass movements to make a real impact on the health and wellbeing of the planet.

• Kwakwaka'wakw

  Webpage on the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples’ tribes, history, language (Kwak´wala), cultures, fisheries, traditional foods, and territory (on and around what is now called northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada).

• Squamish Estuary

  Ocean research from the 1970s to present is featured on the website for Ocean Wise, a global conservation organization that creates community action to protect and restore the ocean.

• Welcome to Squamish

  Website sharing Squamish Nation’s vision on growing their local economy by focusing on three sectors: green economy, outdoor recreation, and sustainable tourism. The Squamish Economic Development team, composed of community members and Squamish Nation, encourages people to reach out about starting, growing, or investing in Squamish.

• Kwakiutl Protest

  Article shares a series of photographs and stories from the Kwakiut protests that occurred after a breach of the 1851 Douglas Treaty was made when the B.C. government and Western Forest Product made an illegal land deal. The article discusses the rich history of the Kwakiutl and their demands going forward.

• Western Forest Products: Defining a Higher Standard

  Webpage for Western Forest Products, a forest products manufacturing company based in Vancouver that is committed to producing sustainable building products.

• 2030 Olympic Bid

  Webpage detailing the 2030 Olympic Bid made by four nations: Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh). This would be the first Indigenous-led bid in history, aiming for reconciliation through sport. The webpage has since been updated, stating that the B.C. Government is not in support of this bid.

• Explore Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre in 3D

  A 3D guide of the entire Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, which includes a museum, art gallery and gift shop, and café. Many museum displays are clearly depicted with legible informational plaques. The cultural center was created in partnership between the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations.

• Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

  The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, created in partnership between the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, aims to preserve and share cultural knowledge. This page on the Squamish Nation’s website contains a link to the cultural center’s website.

• Coast Mountain Ecology

• Blackcomb Helicopters Limited Partnership (BHLP) Land Use & Tenure

  The Blackcomb Helicopters company explains the federal permission they have been granted to operate throughout the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. This Land Act tenure grants the company access to the land for commercial recreational purposes. Indigenous communities and impact on the environment were considered before tenure was granted.

• He taught for 10 years without pay: John Craven Jones, Salt Spring Island’s First Teacher

  In the mid-to-late-1800s, integrated schools on Salt Spring Island, B.C. held student bodies of Indigenous, Black, and White children. This article tells how John Craven Jones founded and taught at these schools, with no funding for the first ten years.

• The Cowichan River - A Canadian Heritage River Story

  Story map of the Cowichan River that maps natural, cultural, and recreational heritage.

• Coast Salish Place Names of the San Juan Islands

  Map that places the Coast Salish at the forefront, prioritizing their relationship and history with their territories. Language and culture are at one with the landscape.

• Sea Gardens Across the Pacific

  Indigenous knowledge holders, scholars, and artists created an interactive, global map of the sea gardens across the Pacific. The map describes ancestral innovation and connections, geographic and temporal extents, biophysical manipulations, target species, ceremonial and stewardship practices, and the current status of sea gardens; information to which many different universities, organizations, and agencies contributed.