Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
Subscription Form

Get notified of the best News

Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
22K Followers
25K Likes
5K Followers
1K Followers
Mountain Life
Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Women

On the Frontlines: Indigenous Women Protecting Sacred Places

  • February 15, 2018
  • Mountain Life Media
Total
37
Shares
37
0
0
0
0
0
Total
37
Shares
Share 37
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0

Widely known as the Broughton Archipelago, the traditional territory of the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, ‘Namgis, and Mamalilikala First Nations is a pristine stretch of ocean and islands off the northeastern coast of Vancouver Island. It’s also home to one third of British Columbia’s wild salmon population, and ground zero for an increasingly important BC environmental battle.

sacred2 FEATURE
Karrisa Glendale reflects on the battle to protect wild salmon in her traditional territory.

Words :: Alex Harris // photography :: Cristina Mittermeier.

Foreign-owned, open-net pen Atlantic salmon fish farms have been operating in the area for 30 years. The Broughton Archipelago is a crucial feeding ground for wild Pacific salmon and independent research continues to reveal the deadly threat these farm operations pose, mainly via the transfer of viruses, sea lice and disease through the open-net pens, to juvenile wild salmon passing by on their natural migration routes.

Young female warriors of the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw and ‘Namgis Nations, Molina Dawson (21) and Karissa Glendale (22), have been occupying, monitoring and engaging in direct action within their territory since August 2017 to raise awareness and put an end to the many harms these foreign industries are causing in their traditional lands and waters.

Efforts to re-assert female leadership continue in Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, ‘Namgis, and Mamalilikala First Nations. In these matriarchal societies, women are upheld and honoured for their wisdom and strength. And as First Nation culture, communities, and territory continue to come under attack by industry across BC, many believe it is time to empower young female leaders and their matriarch Elders to speak out and stand up for justice in their communities and beyond.

Sacred1 copy
Molina Dawson

What motivates you?
I was fortunate to grow up with wild salmon. We were able to have it a lot, more than twice a week, and there was no worry about running out because we had quite a bit in the freezer. I was able to learn how to preserve it and make it a whole bunch of different ways from my aunts and grandmas. With my niece being born, it really made me look at the reality. We can’t have fish more than twice a week, or even more than twice a month now. So if I’m going to be able to teach her anything about what I learned, I have to do something to save the wild salmon.

What is it like being a woman on the frontline?

Molina: It’s been mostly women on the frontlines. I think part of that could be that we instinctually have more concern for the future, because we are mothers or are going to be mothers one day.

Karissa: I don’t think it would be any different from being a man on the frontline. If anything, I think it’s a bit more of an advantage because us women can control our emotions better, I guess. And we have definitely been tested throughout this whole thing.

Are there any women in your life or in your family who have inspired you?

Molina: My mother definitely has inspired me. My mom has been heavily involved. And a lot of the organizing, not just people on the frontline but a lot of the ones behind the scenes making sure press releases get out and connecting the dots, has been done by women too. My mother has been an amazing support and guide in this.

How has being on the frontline changed you?

Molina: I think I’ve learned a lot being out there. You see a lot from observing these farms. It doesn’t take a long time looking in these pens to notice a deformed fish or one with a big sore on the side. It’s not natural. The provincial [fish farm] licenses are up in June, so our number one concern right now is making sure those don’t get renewed. We are hoping to see abundant wild salmon runs in the future so we can still have healthy whales and bears and humans. Because that’s what this coast relies on: wild salmon.

For more information on BC’s battle to protect wild salmon check out cleansingourwaters.com

Total
37
Shares
Share 37
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • conservation
  • First Nations
  • Salmon
Mountain Life Media

Previous Article
  • The Great Outdoors
  • Paddling

Surf Mama: Paddle Harder To Live Better

  • February 14, 2018
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
Next Article
  • The Great Outdoors
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding

Loungin’ With Myrtle: The First Lady Of Whistler

  • February 19, 2018
  • Ben Osborne
View Post
You May Also Like
knorthphotography.Beverly-Glenn Copeland-crop
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer

Beverly Glenn-Copeland: Finding the Universal Broadcast

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 17, 2023
Vincent-Colliart-Caroline-Cote-antarctica-sunset
View Post
  • Skiing
  • Trips & Expeditions
  • Women

Canadian Explorer Caroline Côté Reaches South Pole in Record 34 Days

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 13, 2023
Talon-Pascal-lilWat-feature-crop
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer

Talon Pascal, Culture Keeper

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 9, 2023
M-Fredriksson-Christina-Lusti-2
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing
  • Women

Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger: Killing It Softly

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 3, 2023
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Santa Rips

  • Sarah Bulford
  • December 23, 2022
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding

Arc’teryx Backcountry Academy is coming to Whistler B.C.

  • Sarah Bulford
  • December 20, 2022
Ricky-Lewon-ski-racer
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing

Ricky Lewon and the Need for Speed

  • Mountain Life Media
  • December 9, 2022
Raphael-Zarka
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer

Art vs. Skate

  • Mountain Life Media
  • December 5, 2022
Featured Posts
  • Norco-Bigfoot2-fat-bike-winter-ride-MTB 1
    Gear Shed: Midwinter Picks
    • February 7, 2023
  • Skeena-Cat-Skiing-Northern-BC 2
    We Were Here
    • February 6, 2023
  • Mountain-Life-Coast-Mountains-Winter-2023 3
    ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue Out Now
    • February 3, 2023
  • Saint-Lawrence-ice-canoe-Jean-Anderson 4
    Jean Anderson: 40 Years of Ice Canoeing
    • January 31, 2023
  • CHOK-Images-RAB-Avril-2022 5
    Chic-Chocs: True Eastern Alpine
    • February 2, 2023
RECENT POSTS
  • Life-Time-Grand-Prix-gravel-bike
    New Docuseries Profiles the World’s Elite Off-Road Cyclists
    • January 30, 2023
  • L'Hymne-des-Trembles-Laurentians-Quebec
    L’Hymne des Trembles: Uncompromising Laurentian Skiing
    • January 27, 2023
  • Fjallraven-Nuuk-Parka-daniel-blom-photo_jacket
    Gear Shed: Multisport Winter Roundup
    • January 26, 2023
Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
INSTAGRAM
mountainlifemedia
22K Followers
There is a trend—mostly with tourism organizations and marketing departments, but travel journalists have been on board for a while now too… and the trend is to use the phrase “untouched wilderness” when writing about remote areas like the Skeena Mountains of northern B.C.
Help us wish ML Publisher @glenedwardharris a very happy, pow filled birthday! #mountainlifer
Live It Up EP 22 is OUT NOW!
NEW ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue is OUT NOW! 🙌
There are some first times that we will always remember. Like the time I skied off-piste through the alpine highlands of le parc national de la Gaspésie.
@shimizuimg getting those January goods ❄️ #mountainlifer
With four decades of ice canoeing under his belt, Jean Anderson has dominated a sport that's unique to Quebec and that he helped shape.
Featuring three gravel and three MTB events, the series explores the intense competition and love of the sport among 60 of the world’s premier cyclists.
Winter commute with #mountainlifer @michelle_pittam ❄️🚵‍♀️🌲
@lhymnedestrembles.ca is no mirage. Set in the lush Laurentian forest, yet easily accessible (less than an hour and a half from Montreal), this luxurious ski-in ski-out residential resort by @groupebrivia is nestled at the foot of the Versant Soleil side of Mont Tremblant. The Tremblant region is a perennial destination for outdoor enthusiasts from around the world, and within the province, attracting 3.5 million visitors annually.
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

There is a trend—mostly with tourism organizations and marketing departments, but travel journalists have been on board for a while now too… and the trend is to use the phrase “untouched wilderness” when writing about remote areas like the Skeena Mountains of northern B.C.
Help us wish ML Publisher @glenedwardharris a very happy, pow filled birthday! #mountainlifer
Live It Up EP 22 is OUT NOW!
NEW ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue is OUT NOW! 🙌
There are some first times that we will always remember. Like the time I skied off-piste through the alpine highlands of le parc national de la Gaspésie.
@shimizuimg getting those January goods ❄️ #mountainlifer
Mountain Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising

Input your search keywords and press Enter.