What Happens to the Salmon Happens to Us I

This artwork honors the Coho Salmon, a symbol of California's ecological heritage and our deep connection to nature. Chief Caleen Sisk of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe reminds us that the salmon's fate mirrors our own: what happens to the salmon happens to us.

Through my collaborations with Native tribes in Northern California, I've witnessed communities and environmentalists work tirelessly to protect salmon from climate change, habitat loss, overfishing, and agricultural runoff. Once abundant, Coho populations plummeted in the 20th century, but dedicated restoration efforts are helping them return to Bay Area streams.

One of the most powerful examples of what is possible happened on the Klamath River. After more than two decades of advocacy led by the Yurok, Karuk, Hoopa, and Klamath tribes, four hydroelectric dams were removed in 2024 in the largest dam removal project in U.S. history. Within 10 days, 6,000 salmon were seen migrating upstream into their historic habitat for the first time in over a century. The Klamath victory is proof that when Indigenous stewardship leads, our ecosystems heal.