Videos, Webinars, & Presentations
Trust, Tension, and Action at the Border 6/25 Ginny Broadhurst, Derek Moscato, Christopher Sands, Sharon Shewmake, Laurie Trautman
The cross-border region connecting British Columbia and Washington State has long benefited from strong relationships of trust and cooperation. From the protection of our shared environment to the interdependency of our economy to our robust sports rivalries, the vitality and resilience of the region is affected by our cross-border connections, many of which are facing novel challenges. This webinar will discuss how increased tensions are impacting these connections and the efforts to overcome them, including recent legislation aimed at recognizing the interconnected relations between Canada and the people of Washington State.
A Network of Hope for the Salish Sea 5/25 Jodie Toft, Rachel Aronson, Briony Penn, Ray Harris, Elin Kelsey, and Ginny Broadhurst
We have an amazing group of speakers from BC and WA who are working on a variety of projects and programs to restore and protect the Salish Sea. Each of the speakers has also participated in one of our Hope for the Salish Sea workshops with author Elin Kelsey. So, join us as we dig into a discussion about how we're all maintaining hope and inspiration in this challenging time. We're sure that it's going to be a rich conversation moderated by Ginny Broadhurst and Elin Kelsey who have teamed up on Hope for the Salish Sea workshops and writings.
Climate Change in the Salish Sea Bioregion 12/24 Aquila Flower
How has anthropogenic climate change altered temperature and precipitation patterns in the Salish Sea bioregion? What further changes do global climate models project for our region over the 21st century? Dr. Flower will answer these questions with analyses and maps from the forthcoming Salish Sea Climate Assessment Report. Climate change has already altered temperature and precipitation patterns around the globe, and these effects are projected to intensify over the 21st century. While this is a global phenomenon, the rate and specific patterns of change vary regionally. Locally focused analyses such as this project are therefore crucial for understanding and preparing for regional climatic changes.
Sharing Knowledge Across Disciplines and Borders 1/24 Dr. Cindy Elliser
Western Washington University created the Salish Sea Institute (SSI) to raise awareness and protection for the Salish Sea. We work to share knowledge across disciplines and borders, understanding that transboundary and transdisciplinary collaboration is essential for good conservation of this diverse region. SSI created the Salish Sea Studies minor to teach students about the Salish Sea’s history, ecology, culture and management complexities. We also convene workshops and webinars, support researchers, scholars, journalists and more through our fellowship program, and produce reports to share science and management strategies among the community of people on and off campus who work to protect the Salish Sea. This talk will introduce you to the Salish Sea Institute, the work we are doing, and discuss the importance of a transboundary perspective on the conservation of the Salish Sea.
Orca Month Webinar 6/25 Michael Weiss, Monika Wieland Shields, Deborah Giles, Chloe Robinson
Orca Month, started by Orca Network, was created to bring together researchers, advocates and a growing community of orca lovers to raise awareness about the threats facing Southern Resident orcas. Now in its 19th year, Orca Month has spread from Washington to Oregon and British Columbia and includes educational and celebratory events throughout the month of June.
Please join us for a special Orca Month webinar hosted by Salish Sea Institute and Orca Salmon Alliance. We will be talking with experts from both Canada and the US about the current research being conducted and collaborations that are happening in the Salish Sea to better understand and recover Southern Resident orcas. We will have short presentations and then time for a panel discussion. If you have a question, please be sure to let us know when you register. We will attempt to answer as many as we can.
Successes, Challenges, and Maintaining Hope for Salish Sea Restoration and Protection 4/25 Featuring Patti Gobin, Lovel Pratt, Julie Watson, Beatrice Frank, Chloe Robinson, and Ginny Broadhurst.
We are excited to bring together a group of passionate speakers who are actively involved in programs dedicated to killer whale protection, shoreline restoration, clean boating, community outreach, and transboundary communication in the Salish Sea.
This event will feature ongoing projects and policies from Olympia, WA to Victoria, BC, aimed at protecting and recovering the Salish Sea.
Reconstructing Ancestral səl̓ilwətaɬ Diets - Archaelogy and Ecology for Indigenous Food Sovereignty 10/24 Meaghan Efford, PhD
We invite you to explore a fascinating collaborative, transdisciplinary research project led by the səl̓ilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). This project integrates archeology, ecology, historical and archival records, and səl̓ilwətaɬ traditional ecological and cultural knowledge to reconstruct the precontact diet of səl̓ilwətaɬ communities. By examining archeology and historical ecology, we can uncover the Coast Salish management of marine, tidal, and terrestrial environments. Studying past subsistence practices offers a unique lens to understand the deep connections between people and their homelands, highlighting Indigenous food sovereignty before European contact. Join us in this journey to deepen our understanding of the relationships between people and place in the Salish Sea.
Emerging Issues in the Salish Sea Roberts Bank Terminal 2 10/23 Ginny Broadhurst, Derek Moscato, Natalie Baloy
Examining the Process of Balancing Economic and Environmental Interests at the Border This shipping terminal expansion project proposed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority would occur in a highly important ecological area for migratory birds and other wildlife, including juvenile Chinook salmon. The environmental impacts during and after construction would be significant to several Salish Sea species, including Southern Resident killer whales that are already in peril. While proponents of the expansion have argued for its strong economic incentives, the opposition to this project is also strong, coming from scientists and environmental groups in BC and WA, labor groups, the Lummi Nation and some First Nations. This project demonstrates the challenges of managing an international ecosystem with a growing economy while striving to protect iconic species that are also important economically and culturally. And yet many people haven’t even heard about the project. Join us to learn more.
The Ocean's Menagerie 5/25 Dr. Drew Harvell
The Ocean's Menagerie is a tale of biological marvels, a story of a woman's passionate connection to an adventurous career in science, and a call to arms to protect the world's most ancient ecosystems. World-renowned marine ecologist Dr. Drew Harvell takes us diving from Hawaii to the Salish Sea, from St. Croix to Indonesia, to uncover the incredible underwater "superpowers" of spineless creatures: we meet corals many times stronger than steel or concrete, sponges who create potent chemical compounds to fight off disease, and sea starts that garden the coastline, keeping all the other nearby species in balance.
Generations of Feminist Ecologies in Land Stewardship and Restoration 3/25 Alexandra Peck, Panel of elder and young tribal leaders.
Join us as historian Alexandra Peck moderates two panels consisting of tribal leaders from the Salish Sea bioregion. The panels will bridge generational gaps and explore the traditional roles of indigenous women in land stewardship. Our speakers will also reflect on historical challenges, triumphs and knowledge systems while fostering dialogue about current and future environmental and indigenous initiatives. The first panel of elders will discuss the history of land stewardship that has been deeply woven with feminism since time immemorial. Coast Salish women played pivotal roles both on the water and ashore—engaging in trade with tribal allies, tending camas prairies, harvesting medicinal plants, and weaving intricate basketry. In the second panel, young tribal leaders will discuss a resurgence and revival of cultural practices. Through these discussions, the longstanding significance of women in land stewardship will be explored. These young women, including an activist, a scientist, and an author/storyteller, will each share their unique perspectives of the present and future of indigenous women in stewardship and restoration.
Orca Month 2024: From Orcas to Humans 5/24 Jamie Hearn, Cheri Peele, Peter Ross, Ruth Sofield
Orca Month, started by Orca Network, was created to bring together researchers, advocates and a growing community of orca lovers to raise awareness about the threats facing Southern Resident orcas. Now in its 18th year, Orca Month has spread from Washington to Oregon and British Columbia and includes educational and celebratory events throughout the month of June.
This year's Orca Month theme is Clean Water, Healthy Futures. Toxic pollution and contaminants in the environment are one of the three main threats facing orcas. Southern Residents in particular are susceptible to the impacts of toxics when combined with low prey availability. Join us for this special Orca Month opening webinar to hear from experts in the field who will provide an overview of common toxic substances and how they get into the water; how these toxic substances impact fish and killer whales; why people in low income and BIPOC communities experience disproportionate harm from these pollutants; and how we can take action to stop these pollutants from entering our waterways.
'Orca-tober': Helping Killer Whales of the Salish Sea 10/23 Dr. Cindy Elliser, Misty Macduffee, Monika Weiland Shields, Dr. Deborah Giles
October 14th, 2023 is Orca Recovery Day, and many think of the whole month as ‘Orca-tober’ – a time to take action and build awareness about the challenges facing the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW), who are critically endangered. The number of successful births and surviving calves has been low in recent years. Although July brought good news with the birth of 2 new calves, they are facing an uphill battle for survival due to lack of food (salmon), noise pollution and contaminates.
But there are also other killer whales in the Salish Sea – the Transient or Biggs killer whales, whose population has been steadily growing for the last 30+ years. While they are also affected by some of the same threats as SRKW, their prey (marine mammals) is plentiful. Join us to learn more about why these two populations are on very different paths..