Environmental Education: Beyond the Classroom

For thousands of years, the tribes have been remarkable stewards of the land and resources that now comprise the State of Washington. But the challenges of stewardship became much greater with the influx of non-Indian population here over the past few centuries. The environment and natural resources of our region have suffered as a result. The cutting of the forests, the straightening of the streams, the pollution of the waters and the seemingly endless surge of urban sprawl have brought many indigenous plants, fish and other animals to the brink of extinction and the over-use of water have all contributed to the environmental challenges we must all now face.

The good news is that there are many great opportunities to promote solutions and to take part in the campaign to effect the change that must come if  life  is to continue in the mountains and streams, the prairies and the rivers, the estuaries and the marine waters.

As one who lives here, you share the responsibility to help resolve the environmental crisis.

How can you help?

You can join a Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group or a mainstream environmental organization. Maybe you can help plant trees or write letters to your congressman. Whatever else you decide to do, please be sure to help support education—in the formal sense as a teacher or educational aid or in the public education sense as a group coordinator or writer. Most importantly, it is important for you to be a teacher at home. Help educate your friends, family, and, most importantly, your children by learning the facts, then passing them on.

Salmon Homecoming exists to support that learning experience, in a fun and culturally significant way. Join us, and tell others about us. Be positive in your approach and never forget the great value of team effort.

Tribes continue to be good stewards of the land, because it is their tradition. They have learned a lot from their traditional stories and their age-old commitment to respecting Mother Earth. Some call the knowledge imparted through their stories the “wisdom of the ages.” We hope you will find this to be true.

Feel free to share the Salmon Homecoming Student Workbook (PDF).

– Salmon Homecoming Alliance