Carl Mcleod at the Coldwater and Nicola Junction, Merritt, BC. (Senna Rock- Thompson Rivers Institutions).

In this podcast, we developed audio from interviews with indigenous biologist Arnie Narcisse and elder Carl Mcleod, to create an audio piece that showcases the struggle with salmon loss, and highlights solutions on how to bring them back. The piece features direct audio derived from the interviews conducted at NVIT, as well as narration from one of our group members, Ryelin. What makes this project unique is that it provides firsthand accounts of the impacts that salmon loss has had on indigenous culture and, therefore, the importance of the salmon’s return.

Hearing from an indigenous perspective on the decline, we explore environmental, cultural, and community-centred solutions to bring back the salmon. In our interviews, we hear from Carl and Arnie about the importance of getting the youth involved in salmon population efforts. One of the challenges we encountered with this project is how to get the public to invest in the story and care about the salmon and everything they represent. We hope that through this podcast, our listeners will hear the passion that Arnie and Carl have and recognize the importance of salmon as a part of our ecosystem, cultures, and identity as Canadians. To rescue the salmon is to rescue a way of life, to rescue our generation from making the same environmental mistakes as those who came before us. It is up to us to save the salmon, so please take a listen to Carl and Arnie, and “get together and work together as one”.