Desolation Peak Lookout hike from Ross Lake

Desolation Peak Lookout hike from Ross Lake

Mount Terror

Samantha Redheart STEM Coordinator / Yakama Nation ERWM. "My goal is to get tribal youth interested in environmental STEM fields related to ongoing cleanup activities at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. This is based on the shortage of qualified engineers, scientists, thenologists, mangers, and analysts needed to clean up the environment damaged by nuclear and hazardous waste materials. I also provide Yakama Nation members and community with necessary skills to make informed decisions and and take responsible action. Hanford’s future will depend on the next generation’s advocacy for cleanup that is thorough and just."

Access to the Hanford Nuclear sight is highly restricted due to ongoing radioactivity.

Inside Reactor B at the Hanford Nuclear sight.

Yakama Nation Tribal Council member Christopher Wallahee at the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River.

Puyallup tribal member and activist Dakota Case in front of the LNG terminal on the edge of the Puyallup Indian Reservation.

Tribal Council Member Annette Bryan on tribal land across the water from the LNG terminal which sits on the edge of their reservation.

LNG terminal in the Port of Tacoma.

Maru Mora Villalpando in front of the Northwest ICE Processing Center. Villalpando advocates for the rights of detainees inside the facility.

Mudflats exposed at low tide with the LNG terminal beyond and the loading cranes for container ships in the Port of Tacoma beyond that.

Confluence of the Cascade River with the Skagit showing glacial silt from the undammed Cascade flowing into the Skagit which is flowing clear because upstream dams capture the silt.

Confluence of the Suak River with the Skagit showing glacial silt from the undammed Sauk flowing into the Skagit which is flowing clear because upstream dams capture the silt.

Confluence of the Suak River with the Skagit showing glacial silt from the undammed Sauk flowing into the Skagit which is flowing clear because upstream dams capture the silt

Jack Fiander, General Counsel for the Sauk Suiattle Indian Tribe. Member of the Yakama Nation and Honorary member of the Suak Suiattle, given the Lushootseed nae of DXwTUKKwIATKIN ("duxtukkwiatkin" meaning protector of all that is sacred). Here in front of the Sauk River.

summit of Pika Peak

Waterfall in the rainforest on the west slope of the North Cascades.

A bigleaf maple brings color to the dark forest on a rainy day in the Hoh Rainforest.

Misty clouds mingle with ancient trees in the Olympic National Forest's Hoh Rainforest on a fall day.

An offshore wind blows against incoming waves to create wild spray on the Olympic Coast.

Roosevelt Elk, Olympic Penninsula.

Evening light over the Methow Valley from Baulky Hill

Ahousaht member Lenny John is an outspoken critic of his nation's approach to fish farms and has engaged in numerous protests and direct actions against them.

Ho'miska̱nis, Don Svanvik, a traditional carver, and hereditary chief and current elected Chief of Council of the ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation under a carving he made on the waterfront in Alert Bay. Carving: depiction of one of hte first ancestors of the first house of the Namgis. the carving depicts 'Namxiyalegiyu, the gigantic sea monster with the body of a halibut it is the crest of the Tsi'tsilwalagami the first house of the Namgis. more info on Namgis web site namgis.bc.ca

Ho'miska̱nis, Don Svanvik, a hereditary chief and current elected Chief of Council of the ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation

Cermaq fish farm anchored to Saranac Island in the Ahousaht First Nation's territory.

A Cermaq fish farm in Ahousaht First Nation's tradtional territory at Saranac Island in Clayoqout Sound. The boat docked by the farm is set up to pressure wash sea lice off of the Atlantic salmon in the farm.

Alexandra Morton inspects a juvenile salmon for sea lice at her home on Malcolm Island in the territory of the Namgis First Nation

Alexandra Morton at her home on Malcolm Island in the territory of the Namgis First Nation

Alexandra Morton at her home on Malcolm Island in the territory of the Namgis First Nation

Chief Earnest Alfred, K̓wak̓waba̱'las, elected council member of the 'Na̱mg̱is First Nation traditional leader of the Ławit̓sis First Nation, with his family at the naming ceremony for his grand daughter in Alert Bay. Alfred was instrumental in the occupation of a fish farm in their territory which has helped bring an end to them in the Broughton. “For our people, salmon is not a menu choice. It’s within our DNA. We are the fish. We are the salmon people.”

A totem pole in the front yard of a house in Alert Bay, home of the Namgis First Nation.

Caribou cow and calf in the Klinse-za maternal pen. Calf mortality is the primary driver of population declines for mountain caribou.

caribou calf about to leave the maternity pen

Twin Sisters mountains in the center of the newly created Indigenous Protected Area which is at the heart of the new agreement between the Canadian Government and the West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations. These mountains are sacred to the Saulteau and what drew them to settle in this region when they fled colonial invasion further east in the continent. As former chief Ken Cameron said, "they provided sactuary for our people". Now they are in the middle of a sanctuary for the caribou.

Ken Cameron, councilor and former Chief of Saulteau First Nation. Cameron was a signateur of the new agreement for the Saulteau. Photographed here at the base of the Twin Sisters mountains.

The Moberly River drains out of the newly created Indigenous Protected Area in the Hart Range Mountains and into Moberly Lake and the reserves of the West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations.

Starr Gauthier, Caribou Guardian.

Daniel Desjarlais, of the West Moberly First Nations picks lichen to feed caribou in the materinity pen run by the West Moberly and Saulteau. Desjarlais, a professional cook shared "I'm picking lichen to feed to the caribou so that one day I will get to eat the caribou." Daniel aspires to bring better food back to his community through his own restaurant that will include "bush foods" that are a traditional part of their diet.

Daniel Desjarlais, WMFN, shows clump of lichen collected to feed the caribou.

Pauline Walker, member of the Saulteau First Nation, collecting lichens to feed to caribou in the maternity pen run by the First Nations. "I consider it an honor to be able to give back to the caribou...We want caribou here for our great-grand children."

Diane Calliou, SFN member, general manager of Twin Sisters Nursery. "I think its important for the nursery to be involved because caribou need food and we can help with that."

Evening light over the Methow Valley from Baulky Hill

Sunset over the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River.

Basalt flows covered much of the Columbia plateau in layers thousands of feet thick in places.

Tanner Creek flows out of the Cascades in Oregon into the Columbia River.

Deadman's Cove on Cape Disappointment on the north side of the mouth of the Columbia River.