While fall tends to drum up images of birds migrating south for the winter, it is also a season of return for one of Northwest Turtle Island’s (California through Alaska) most important animals: salmon.
The Pacific salmon run is one of the greatest migrations in the world, with five salmon species returning from the ocean and swimming upstream to their natal freshwaters from late summer to winter: Chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, and pink salmon. They reproduce and lay eggs in these safer, oxygen-rich environments to increase the probability of their offspring’s survival. The fast currents supply the eggs with oxygen, which they need for development, and the shallow gravel beds in which the eggs are laid protect them from potential predators. These salmon eggs hatch sometime between late winter and early spring, and the young fish make their way downstream to the ocean where they will benefit from the rich food supply to grow and mature into adults. It’s still scientifically debated as to how salmon manage to return to their birthplaces. Scientists have proposed that they likely rely on a combination of smell and detection of the earth’s magnetic field to find their way back home.
Scientists have proposed that salmon likely rely on a combination of smell and detection of the earth’s magnetic field to find their way back home.
The impact of this migration on the Pacific Northwest region is immense. The majority of salmon die after spawning because their energy reserves are depleted after the arduous migration and reproduction. The salmon run sees millions of fish who have loaded up on nutrients in the open ocean and swim deep into the forests of the area, leaving their nutrient-rich carcasses in the forest. These dying salmon are a crucial element of the ecosystem, feeding a plethora of animals, such as wolves, coyotes, bears, and eagles. The decomposing carcasses are also an incredibly important fertilizer for the flora (plants that have come to naturally inhabit a region over time). These carcasses bring nutrients like nitrogen deep into the forests. Nitrogen makes up the proteins, chlorophyll (pigments), and DNA that support plant growth and maintain plant health. Salmon have such an effect on the area that a University of Victoria study found that some forests in the Northern Pacific region receive nearly 80% of their nitrogen from salmon.
Despite how crucial salmon are for the region, their numbers have been sharply declining for some time due to climate change and habitat loss from colonial industrial activities, including mining, dam projects, and overfishing. 2025 saw an uncharacteristically strong sockeye run in the Fraser River made possible by efforts led by First Nations in collaboration with the government Despite this, two-thirds of the region’s salmon populations are in decline. This is having a negative effect on many Indigenous communities, who rely on salmon for food security and cultural ceremony.
Scientists and conservationists are working hard to protect the salmon, yet with mixed results. In the US, hatcheries have been commonplace to try and make up for dams obstructing waterways, however many populations are still in decline. Northern Turtle Island’s (Canada’s) main conservation effort is through the federal Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, launched five years ago. The program funds habitat restoration, hatcheries, research, and enforcement against illegal fishing. It also aims to empower Indigenous and community groups to carry out many of the projects. Warming water is one of the main stressors affecting salmon spawning along the West Coast. Indigenous communities are planting trees near rivers to create cooler, shaded areas, demonstrating how Indigenous ways of knowing are crucial in restoring salmon habitats and populations.
One way you can support Indigenous ways of knowing is by educating yourself. Check out the resources provided in SFU’s webpage to learn more about upholding Indigenous ways of knowing and working towards reconciliation.
