After a lapse of more than a century, Sockeye salmon have successfully reclaimed their ancestral spawning grounds in British Columbia’s Okanagan region. The achievement was made possible by the construction of a new fish passageway, a collaborative effort between the Syilx Nation, the City of Penticton, the province, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
The Okanagan Dam Fish Passage, designed to bypass a dam in Okanagan Lake, has been hailed by the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) for enabling steelhead, rainbow trout, sockeye, chinook, and kokanee salmon to migrate back into the lake and its tributaries via the Columbia River. Funding for this initiative was sourced from the Habitat Conservation Plan, a component of a broader strategy linked to the Priest Rapids hydroelectric project in Washington State, which earmarks funds for the restoration of salmon and steelhead habitats.
According to the Pacific Salmon Commission, the sockeye salmon spawning season typically spans from August to late October. Members of the Sylix community anticipate the imminent arrival of the first salmon migration into their territory.
The journey of the salmon from the Pacific Ocean to Okanagan Lake through the Columbia River, the largest river in the Pacific Northwest, involves traversing nine hydroelectric dams en route to Sylix territory. The ONA, a collective of seven First Nations tribes with territories ranging from north of Revelstoke into Washington state, was established in 1981 to revitalize Sylix traditions, culture, and governance, spearheading various fish restoration projects over the years.
During the unveiling of the passageway on August 18, Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel emphasized the historical significance of salmon migrations across borders, expressing pride in the initiative to facilitate the salmon’s journey akin to ancient times.
Zoe Eyjolfson, the project lead for the ONA salmon passage, shared insights into the challenges posed by dams constructed in the Okanagan watershed, dating back to 1914, leading to significant habitat degradation and endangering salmon populations. The restoration of the cool Okanagan waters is expected to serve as a sanctuary for salmon to rebuild their numbers.
Salmon, or ntytyix in Syilx language, hold a sacred status among the Syilx people, representing more than a mere resource but cherished relatives whose return signifies a profound moment of environmental and cultural rejuvenation. Elder Leon Louis from Lower Similkameen Indian Band emphasized the critical role of salmon in nourishing communities beyond his own, underscoring the universal importance of these fish.
Eyjolfson expressed deep satisfaction in witnessing the opening of the passageway, envisioning a future where successive generations will witness the return of salmon to their historic waters, marking a poignant and hopeful milestone.
The successful restoration of the salmon migration route in the Okanagan region signifies a crucial step towards ecological and cultural healing, embodying a harmonious fusion of environmental stewardship and indigenous traditions.
