This summer, EarthGen’s program staff observed the Colville Tribes’ fishing practices on the Okanogan River as part of an educational partnership with the Upper Columbia United Tribes (UCUT). Staff members were there to learn first-hand about the cultural importance of salmon. EarthGen is codeveloping a new classroom resource for secondary school students to explore the relationships among Northwest watersheds, salmonid species, and the Native people who have lived in and managed these ecosystems for millenia.
To design this new unit, EarthGen collaborates with classroom teachers in the North Central region of Washington and UCUT. Together, they combine the scientific and traditional knowledge of UCUT and their tribal affiliates, the specific needs of teachers, and EarthGen’s program development skills. High school students from the region will pilot the new unit in the spring.
