Salmon and Ceremony in the Columbia River Headwaters

On May 19, 2022, Kenpesq (Shuswap Indian Band) gathered at the headwaters of the Columbia River near Invermere BC. Members of the Ktunaxa, Syilx and Secwepemc Nations participated in a Salmon fry release ceremony. The Secwépemc Nation released 1,500 sockeye salmon smolts from the kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ Hatchery into the Columbia River headwaters. The Grand Coulee dam has blocked access to the upper Columbia River since 1939.