The Nimiipuu (Nez Perce Tribal people) are interested in discovering what can be done to conserve and recover their wild salmon population. This project seeks to engage Nez Perce Reservation youth in place-based, hands-on education to promote advocacy and conservation of this sacred species. This project will provide the educational and technical support needed to tackle common barriers to Nez Perce Reservation youth engagement to bolster the next generation of salmon advocates.
In the Nez Perce Tribe’s story of creation, it was salmon who stood up first and agreed to feed the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce people). It was at that time that the people agreed to care for the salmon and be their voice which would be their sacred obligation that they still uphold to this day. For this reason, salmon is very important to the people. However, due to many factors, salmon’s presence at the table has diminished over the years as their numbers have dwindled. Salmon stood up to take care of the people, so now, leaders, elders, adults and youth are all asking what they can do to help protect the sacred salmon before it is too late.
Many community members living on and around the reservation are at or below the poverty level. Many of the youth are at risk. These two factors make it essential that the people stay connected to their culture and traditions. Traditional foods like salmon are key to keeping the people healthy and provide a connection to the Tribe and to the land.
The Nez Perce Tribe is working with a coalition of Nations in the Pacific Northwest to address salmon conservation. Nez Perce youth are increasingly involved. Three students, ages 14 to 15, visited Washington D.C. in April 2024 to share their concerns with state representatives and policy groups as the Nimiipuu Youth Salmon Protectors.
The need to engage youth locally persists. Nez Perce Reservation youth participation in similar programs to gather Indigenous food and medicine, learn cultural hunting/fishing practices, demonstrates youth are highly motivated to learn traditional knowledge and conserve integral local life sources, including wild salmon.
Nez Perce Reservation youth need access to salmon habitat, as well as the latest information on salmon ecology and management. This project will connect Nez Perce Reservation youth to their watershed, including the Clearwater, Snake, and Columbia rivers.
This project will gather Nez Perce Reservation youth, decision makers, Tribal leadership, recreational experts, conservationists, resource managers, and scientific experts to demonstrate current salmon management and discuss future needs. This gathering may take place on the riverbank, in the river current, or within the river impoundment as determined by Nez Perce Reservation youth and partners. By enabling on-the-river site visits, this project seeks to overcome major financial and logistical barriers to connecting Nez Perce Reservation youth to the home range of sacred salmon.
Experiences gained through these site visits will be shared with the broader community. Stories and multimedia will be presented at the Fall 2025 Nez Perce General Counsel. Youth participants will be encouraged to share their experiences with future cohorts and partners.
Early Spring 2025: Identify and engage meeting participants
Late Spring 2025: Develop project plan and curriculum
Summer 2025: Implement meeting/trip
Fall 2025: Share project experience
Danielle Scott received her A.A.S. and B.A.S. in Early Childhood Development with a minor in Business Administration from Lewis Clark State College and a M.S. degree in Adult Organizational Learning and Leadership from the University of Idaho. Danielle has been the University of Idaho Extension Educator for the Nez Perce Reservation for the past 8 years. She is a Nez Perce Tribal descendent and an enrolled member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians. Her work responsibilities include working with youth and families teaching 4-H, life skills, agriculture, and assisting in community development projects.
Chelsea Jones’ involvement in community science has guided years of work at the nexus of water and society. Her research has included karst hydrology in the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains, industrial groundwater use in the Permian Basin, and frequency of freshwater fish kills in Texas. While working as a senior research analyst with the State of Texas, Chelsea facilitated interdisciplinary research projects to address some of the Southwest’s natural resource data gaps. Chelsea’s role expanded to include extensive public outreach efforts to engage local stakeholders and communicate increasingly complex ecosystem research. Chelsea is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she enjoys hiking, canoeing, and whitewater rafting.
The project team is recruiting scientists to share current research on species status and habitat to support Nez Perce Reservation youth-based salmon advocacy. Demonstrations will be held in salmon habitat in summer 2025 to support place-based, hands-on conservation education.
Thriving Earth Exchange asks all scientific partners to work with the community to help define a project with concrete local impact to which they can contribute as pro-bono volunteers and collaborators. This work can also position the scientists and communities to seek additional funding, together, for the next stage.
KSU, Center for Hazardous Substance Research conducts research, education, and service pertaining to environmental topics, where a reputable, neutral organization is needed to develop technically sound, consensus-based solutions for diverse groups of stakeholders.
