The U.S. Government Commitments in Support of the “Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative” and in Partnership with the Six Sovereigns lays a clear path forward for free-flowing river
Category: Snake River Salmon News
2023 All Our Relations Snake River Campaign
Artwork credit: © A. Cyaltsa Finkbonner, 2023 Starting Sept 23rd, 2023, the intertribal nonprofit Se’Si’Le’ will join with coalition partners, including Native Organizers Alliance, Nimíipuu Protecting the Environment, and KHIMSTONIK begin an eight-day journey across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho (September 23 - October 1). The journey starts…
Recapping the 2023 Washington State Legislative Session
The 2023 Washington state legislative session ended April 23. Thanks in part to the faithful advocacy of the Earth Ministry/WAIPL community we have a lot to celebrate! Here’s how our priority bills and budget items ended up:
Salmon and Orcas Are Being Managed Toward Extinction—and So Is the Lummi Nation
Jay Julius, former chairman of Lummi Nation and president of Se'Si'Le wrote this piece for Earth Day in the Sierra Club magazine about salmon and orca extinction and the WA Catholic Bishops' Statement on Caring for Creation in the Lower Snake River Region. He writes,"We need to ask the question: According to what higher moral authority are these extinctions allowed? What is the price to be paid by the Salmon Nations, whose lifeway, cultural identity, and spirituality relies on our salmon relatives?"
Petition to WA State Legislators: Stop Salmon Extinction
Restoring the Lower Snake River is the cornerstone of a regional salmon recovery strategy. By taking action during the 2023 legislative session, WA State can help lead this holistic effort which has the potential for far reaching impacts including the recovery of endangered salmon and steelhead, investment in transportation, agriculture, and clean energy infrastructure.
Bishops issue statement for care of creation
by Mary Stamp from The Fig Tree The five Catholic bishops of Washington State developed and signed, "Caring for Creation and the Common Good in the Lower Snake River Region," this fall, reported Sr. Jessica Zimmerle, advocacy director at Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light (WAIPL)—who supports this project with the intertribal nonprofit Se'Si'Le—and the Washington State Catholic Conference. Photo credit: Bureau of Land Management
Washington Catholic Bishops to Lawmakers: Take deliberate action on salmon recovery with Northwest Native Nations as principal partners
The five Catholic bishops of Washington State released a statement proclaiming the need to care for creation and recognize Native Nations as the principal dialogue partners when addressing the endangered salmon population of the Lower Snake River. Photo credit: Stephen Brashear
Gov Inslee and Sen. Murray Lower Snake River Dam Replacement Report
In October 2021 Governor Jay Inslee and Senator Patty Murray announced a joint federal-state process to develop and deliver a comprehensive solution to protect and recover Lower Snake River salmon and invest in the region’s communities. Photo credit: Richard Saxon
Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey: Challenge 2.0 Three Part Series
Paths to Understanding's Challenge 2.0 series recently featured conversations with Native leaders during the Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey in a three part series.
Gov. Inslee and Sen. Murray Release Lower Snake River Dams Report
Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray have released a draft report studying the feasibility of replacing the services currently provided by the Lower Snake River dams. As people of faith, we bring a unique moral message to this conversation around the future of the Lower Snake River. We are centering the need of our neighbors, with justice for Native Nations at the forefront, by calling for solutions that will restore salmon facing extinction AND bring everyone forward together. The new draft report shows us the way forward.
Faith Leaders respond to Lower Snake River salmon draft report
Earth Ministry/WAIPL and local faith leaders Rabbi Seth Goldstein and The Rev. John Rosenberg were quoted in this press release about the release of Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee's report on replacing services provided by the four lower Snake River dams.
Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey Recap
The focus of the Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey was to uplift the Indigenous-led movement to honor the spirit of a free-flowing Lower Snake River and restore the health of salmon and orca. Witnessing these events was a beautiful experience in which we heard Native speakers share passionately about their connection to the land, water, air, and of course the salmon.
The Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey
The faith community has been asked to show up in solidarity with Lummi tribal members, the House of Tears Carvers, intertribal nonprofit Se’Si’Le, and Native communities across the Pacific Northwest to support a Totem Pole Journey uplifting the Indigenous-led movement to remove the Lower Snake River dams and restore the health of salmon and orcas.
Rabbi Seth Goldstein speaks at Stop Salmon Extinction Rally in Olympia
On Saturday, April 2, people gathered in Olympia to show their support for a comprehensive solution to breaching the Lower Snake River dams that will restore salmon populations and invest in communities along the river. We were honored to hear Rabbi Seth Goldstein of Temple Beth Hatfiloh speak about the sacred work that is salmon recovery and how it aligns with the Shmita year.
Thanking Senators for Salmon Funding
Senators Cantwell and Murray and the Northwest delegation recently secured nearly $3 billion in federal funding for imperiled salmon and community investments. In response, Earth Ministry/WAIPL joined with coalition partners to run newspaper ads that thank the senators and ask for their continued leadership in restoring a free-flowing Lower Snake River.