Canada: First Nations bring sockeye back to Arrow Lakes for first time in decades

Lance Thomas sent well wishes as he helped release dozens of adult sockeye salmon into the Arrow Lakes last week. “Pray that they have a safe journey,” said Thomas, with the Ktunaxa Nation’s ?a·knusti (Guardian) program. More than 80 years after the species was blocked from returning to its spawning habitat in the Upper Columbia River system, the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, and sylix Okanagan nations are bringing sockeye back to the waterway. Now, the nations’ researchers will closely monitor the species’ movements, in hopes of identifying potential spawning grounds. So far this summer, the initiative has tagged and released 57 adult sockeye carrying acoustic-tracking beacons into the lakes — 16 of them in July, and 41 last month. The most recent release on Aug. 30 brought together representatives from sylix Okanagan and Ktunaxa nations, as well as local officials. Biologists with the Bringing the Salmon Home initiative hope following the species’ movements — as sockeye seek ...