Echoes of the River: A Day with Indigenous community people and the Story of the Salmon

Carl Mcleod at the Coldwater River, Merritt, BC. (Mehak Gaur/TRU)

In this podcast, we share the voices of Indigenous biologist Arnie Narcisse and Elder Carl McLeod. They talk about what salmon mean to their people that it’s not just a food to them, but also a  symbol of life, culture, and connection to the land.

Through interviews recorded at NVIT and narration through our group ( Sarah and Mehak)  we explore the story of salmon loss and the hope of bringing them back. Arnie and Carl share powerful insights on how to protect the rivers, involve the youth, and work together as a community.

This project is special because it comes straight from those who live and feel the impact every day. Their message is simple but strong; to save the salmon is to save a way of life.They speak passionately about the need to involve youth, to rebuild relationships with nature, and to “get together and work together as one.”

One of the Elders also took us to the Nicola River, a place where salmon once filled the waters. Standing there, looking at the calm flow, one could only imagine what it must have looked like years ago. It wasn’t just an interview anymore; it was a reminder that protecting nature is about protecting who we are.


Our goal through this podcast is for listeners to feel the same love and concern for the salmon that Arnie and Carl shared, and to see why their return matters to everyone.