The day was cold, the air was crisp, and snow had fallen freshly on our trail. It was my first day with Nisqually River Education Projects annual Salmon Toss!
The pungent odor of thawing salmon carcasses soaked the air, calling to the Bald Eagles, and embedding itself in my clothes. The students jumped and scooted their way though the snow pack, screeching in exclamation: SNOW!
The day was ours. We were bringing the Salmon back.
The decaying salmon bodies will support the trees, young salmon, raccoons, the river, the birds, and other wildlife. This is what we teach the children; we teach them to preserve, restore, and respect the mighty Salmon. We are teaching them the price to pay for the ease of commodification, and the price is high.
137 vertebrae animals depend on Salmon to survive, anywhere from 25-70% of nitrogen in tress is attributed to Salmon, the return of Salmon is linked to the very health of the Nisqually Tribe’s People, also trees will grow faster and bigger on salmon producing waters.
This is service learning. Children bridging the gap of the Salmon life cycle, a cycle which has been lost due to the commodity process. For more information on this activity and others visit the Nisqually River Educations Project webpage.
For a fun look at kids tossing Salmon here is a short video: Flying Salmon
After reading your latest ILC post, reading this made me a bit more hopeful and a little less depressed. Does working directly with the young, uncorrupted next generation in the face of such corruption of the earth make you feel that way?
Yes it is fun for the most part, all of the students really get into it. Plus it gives them a positive memory of salmon and wanting to protect them.
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