For the first time for more than a century, Sockeye Salmon is capable of returning to Okegan Lake
For the first time in the BC’s Ocongan region in the Ocongan region of BC, they are able to return to the historic sponing ground in more than a century, thanks to a new fish route built by Silks Nation in partnership with Penticon, Province and Canada (DFO) of the oceans.
The Oknagan Dam Fishes bypasses a dam in the Ocongan Lake, and according to the Okegon Nation Alliance (Ona), Steelhead, Rainbow Trout and Sockey, Chinook and Kokni salmon will allow the lake to go back to the lake and its tributaries via Colombia River.
Priest Rapids in the state of Washington is part of a comprehensive strategy related to the hydroelectric project. Under the Betate Conservation Plan, funding was provided for the project, which allocates funds for restoration of salmon and steelhead habitat.
As Pacific salmon commissionSpon, Spon from August to the end of October, and members of Silix are expecting the first migration of salmon in the area within a week.
The salmon will flee from the Pacific Ocean to the Ocongan Lake through the Columbia River – the largest river in the Prashant Northwest – which flows through the BC, Washington State and Oregon. The fish will pass through nine separate hydroelectric dams on their way to the silix area.
Ona, a first nation in BC, is built of seven first nations, which are spread from the north of Revastok in the state of Washington in 1981 to restore silix traditions, culture and governance in 1981 and say it has been leading fish restoration projects since its inception.
During the inauguration ceremony for the route on 18 August, Pentichtan Indian band chief Greg Gabriel told the media that “Our salmon came from states in the north and we had fishing camps (beyond borders) for thousands of years.”
“Today, we are going to open this waterway to create a route for our salmon, as they continued their journey thousands of years ago.”
Zoe Eyjolfson, Ona Salmon Passage Project Lead, said that at least three dams were built in the Okegan Watershed starting in 1914, causing loss of major habitat.
“The salmon was on the verge of extinction,” he said.
After about a century, Sockeye Salmon can again reach a historical sponing residence in the BC’s Okanagan lake. This Syilx is a welcome return to the people of the nation, who spent 20 years in the reconstruction of the sponing residence to make it possible.
Eyjolfson says that cool okanagan water will provide a refuge for salmon to start rebuilding its population.
As Ona websiteSalmon – or ntytyix – Syilx are sacred to people.
“They are considered relatives, not resources, and their return performs a powerful function of environment and cultural treatment.”
Lione Lyon Louis, a large Lynecle of the Lower Similkemen Indian band, said that Salman said that he returns to Okegon “Will feed people, not only mine, not only mine. This is how important the salmon.”
Eyjolfson described the route as a rewarding and open watch as a moment of pride.
“For themselves, to know that my children will see many generations of salmon coming back into their historical water, this is a very special day.”
