We are thrilled to share a story of hope and inspiration! On March 21, five NextGen Salmon Collective leaders spent the day in Olympia advocating for salmon, orcas, and all the communities that depend on and cherish these iconic species!

The students delivered a timely petition with over 200 student signatures to Governor Ferguson’s office – advocating for leadership to protect and restore Snake River salmon and Southern Resident orcas.

They wrote to the Governor, “As youth of the Pacific Northwest, we will see the consequences of the decisions you make today. We will either see a bright future with abundant salmon, a healthy ecosystem, and prosperous communities, or we will be faced with the unacceptable outcome of salmon extinction. We ask that you choose abundance over extinction, and that you strongly support the continued implementation of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative.”

We are deeply appreciative of their leadership to ensure salmon abundance and healthy Southern Residents for future generations. See below for their reflections on the first inaugural NextGen Legislative Advocacy Day!

“My favorite part of the Legislative Advocacy Day was meeting with Tribal representatives and senators to talk about Treaty rights and our rights to salmon restoration.” - Keyen Singer, University of Oregon

“I really enjoyed meeting with so many different legislators and talking about what they can do for salmon recovery.” - Katie Chase, Western Washington University

“I advocate for salmon and orca because they are a crucial part of our ecosystems and our communities all throughout Washington and without them, we are not Washington!” - Virginia Owens, Gonzaga University

Applications for the summer internship program are now open! Learn more about the NextGen Salmon Collective and apply here. Reach out to abby@wildsalmon.org if you have any questions.

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