In this final episode of Season One of Salmonfolk Radio we hear Part 2 of the interview with Chief Ernest Alfred. We talk about the Ainu people on Hokkaido, Japan. We talk about salmon people from around the world. It's just a damn fine ending to Season One!
In this second to the last episode of Season One of Salmonfolk Radio Hereditary Chief Ernest Alfred of the Namgis, Tlowit'sis, and Mamalilikala Nations sits down with me for a powerhouse interview in August of 2018. We talk about sooo many things:
In this spontaneous and unplanned interview from 2018, we sit down with matriarch Tsastilqualus Ambers Umbas of the Ma'amtagila Nation. This interview is powerful folks! Tsastilqualus discusses the nature of being a matriarch, her fight against the fish farm industry, intense run-ins with local law enforcement and the power of sustained protest for what is right.
Adam Olsen is many things. He is a father and a husband and the MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. From his website:
"Adam Olsen (SȾHENEP) is the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Saanich North and the Islands and member of the B.C. Green Caucus. He was first elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in May 2017 and re-elected in October 2020."
"Inspired by the incredible place and people he represents, Adam has a deep love and respect for his home in the Salish Sea (W̱SÁNEĆ)."
"Born in Victoria, BC, Adam has lived, worked and played his entire life on the Saanich Peninsula. He is a member of Tsartlip First Nation (W̱JOȽEȽP)"
In this vibrant and very much to the point conversation, Adam discusses his views as being descended both from Indigenous and Settler peoples in the area. The episode is packed with origin stories from the Tsartlip First Nation and Adam's own principled take on how we need to be doing better right now, and not later.
This episode is packed with goodness. Besides our meeting with Dan and Bonny, who are Tofino BC locals and the directors of the fish farm fighting org- Clayoquot Action, you will hear about:
I sit down with Frederik W. Mowinckel, who is related to a family that founded one of Norway's first salmon farming companies. Though his family exited the industry many years ago, he has an insider's view to "open net" salmon farming that is rare...Grab a cup of coffee, this is going to be good.
Dr. Claudette Bethune is a pharmacokineticist and a clinical scientist. She has been featured in more than one documentary about her work in Norway in the Norwegian National Institute for Nutrition and Seafood Safety (NIFES). While there food safety her research took her down some very unexpected pathways. She risked her career to tell the truth about what was happening with farmed salmon in regards to pollutants and harmful levels of toxins. Her journey required grit and integrity that many need to hear about.
In this episode we hear an interview with Alexandra Morton about the status of fish farming. A Norwegian fish farm company hires an undercover surveillance operation to follow Alexandra. We make our way to Tofino.
https://alexandramorton.typepad.com/
The full exclusive LIVE performance of Being Salmon, Being Human, filmed in Sointula on Malcolm Island, BC. Namgis Territory. featuring the trio from Norway! Georgiana Keable, Dr. Martin Lee Mueller, and Torgeir Vassvik bring storytelling to life in this live recording of their performance based on the book of the same name.
What's better than that? A video recording of the entire show that you can also watch!
My site: https://www.salmonfolk.com/
Georgiana's site: http://georgiana.net/
Torgeir's site: https://vassvik.com/
Martin's site: https://www.beingsalmonbeinghuman.com/
Where to buy the book: https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/being-salmon-being-human/
Dr. Martin Lee Mueller dives deep into conversation and the prehistoric records for the big picture story of humans and species loss. We discuss indigenous living, the loss of that way of life for the majority of us, and what it means if we don't get it back. Martin also discusses the challenges and process of writing his book Being Salmon Being Human.
I have a proper sit down oceanside chat with two remarkable humans. Georgiana Keable is one of the Norway Trio here to perform Being Salmon, Being Human. She is also a professional storyteller in Norway and a published author on the topic. You can find out more about her work at http://georgiana.net
In this interview you can hear her modern rendition of the Salmon Girl story. She also shares her reasons for becoming a storyteller.
Kate Brauer is an orca enthusiast and researcher who lives on Malcolm Island full time. She has a special story of her own to share. It has to do with 25 foot long orcas who love to charge the beaches on the wild side of Malcolm Island to rub their bellies. Sounds interesting doesn't it?
You can find out about the org Kate is affiliated with at https://www.facebook.com/friendsofthewildside
Commercial fishermen, shop owners, librarians, local hot spots- the sounds and vibe of Malcolm Island (in the unceded territories of the #namgis #kwakiutl and #mamalilikala Nations) come alive as I spend a day away from the Norway trio to explore the island. Find out what locals have to say about fish farms from many different perspectives.
In Episode 7 I have a chance to do a proper sit down interview with Dennis Reid...except that we are not sitting. Instead we end up standing on the Woss Bridge, 80 feet above the spectacular scenery of the Nimpkish River. Before that though, we spend the afternoon along the Eve River, following it down the slackwater where healthy salmon and fly fishermen and Golden Eagles await us. Dennis also relates a lot of great information about salmon in general...how they live, how they migrate, what a healthy salmon stream consists of. It's basically a "get to know your salmon" episode.
And after my interview with Dennis, who is one of the most knowledgeable people you can meet when it comes to the dangers of open net salmon farming, I get to end the day on Malcolm Island where the trio from Norway has literally cooked up a tasty campside treat.
Dennis has a website you should check out: https://fishfarmnews.blogspot.com/
Music in this episode by: https://sieboldsound.com/
Episode 6 relaunches the Salmonfolk Radio series after being on hiatus for nearly 2 long years! We are back with a bang and doing weekly Season One drops for the remaining 14 episodes every Tuesday.
This episode features the trio from Norway and I meeting Dennis Reid for the first time. He gives us a personalized backcountry tour of healthy salmon rivers ecosystems (Salmon, Adam, Eve, Nimpkish) on the Johnstone Strait side of Van Isle. Dennis runs the world's largest anti-salmon farming website https://fishfarmnews.blogspot.com/ and he's also a published poet and expert fly fisherman. We talk a LOT about salmon habitats, behavior and lifecycles. If you like to fish for salmon this one is for you.
You will also hear some more in depth conversation with the Norway trio about reconciliation, residential schools and how similar Norway and Canadian history is in those areas...and how it all relates to the spread of Norwegian salmon farms into unceded First Nations territory in Canada.
But most importantly, you get to find out the answer to the burning question: Who is Niillas Somby?
Argentina banned open net salmon farming in 2021. Find out how in this exclusive interview with Martina Sasso and Maia Gutierrez of Sin Azul No Hay Verde, a project of Rewilding Argentina. To see the documentary mentioned in this interview here is the direct link to "Contracorriente Espanol".
My second day on the island involved a lot of driving and lots of time to think. In this episode the author of "Being Salmon, Being Human: Encountering the Wild in Us and Us in the Wild" reads directly from his book. What is Hoquat and what does it have to do with open net farmed salmon? You do not want to miss this one!
Episode sponsored by Chelsea Green Publishing.
In this episode we hear from long time marine naturalist and author Barry Swanson. He wrote The Lost Frequency. That interview dives into what happened to Tahlequah, also known as "J35". She is an orca who lives in the Salish Sea. As soon as I landed I discovered something shocking. At that same time I was headed to Salt Spring Island, BC in the traditional territory of the Saanich, Cowichan, and Chemainus First Nations., to meet with Rama DelaRosa who was doing a Swim for the Salish Sea. Rachael Merrett from the Georgia Strait Alliance also makes an appearance in explaining what's going on with the orcas living in the Salish Sea.
What was happening in 2017 that made me want to travel from the east coast of the USA to Vancouver Island? Why was Chief Ernest Alfred of the Namgis First Nation living on an open net salmon fish farming platform? You'll want to hear what it's all about in "Origins and Introductions".
Sound design and editing by Jay Siebold. Additional music selections by Torgeir Vassvik. Chief Ernest Alfred segment audio originally recorded by Tamo Campos.
Special thanks to Co-Executive producers: Teala Spitzbarth, Carolyn Weeramantry, Rheann Ernest, John Taylor, Chandra Souza and "Anon"....for helping this episode reach full funding and sound quality! If you would like to help with future episodes here is the GoFundMe:
For more info on the Salmonfolk multimedia project:
This is the PILOT episode that launched Salmonfolk Radio, on June 12th, 2021. In "The Chef Speaks!", you get to hear an unflinching account of why a 5-Star Michelin chef refuses to bring open net farmed salmon into his kitchen. In this colorful and vibrant discussion a story unfolds of how this East End of London born chef, now living in Denmark, has embraced the option of using Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) salmon and why. It's an episode to share with every restaurant and chef you know.
If you happen to live in Denmark and are wanting to sample the Chef's artisan RAS smoked salmon that he has put so much time and energy into...
https://www.royalnyborgsmokehouse.com
This PILOT episode is the first of many. Successive episodes of Salmonfolk Radio will be added but not without the gracious support of friendly listeners. Salmonfolk Radio is seeking sponsors and individuals to help cover the costs of the all important sound mastering and design to ensure that all future episodes are a pleasure to listen to. I am working with the talented Jay Siebold for my sound design needs. Check him out!
Here is the GoFundMe:
For more info on the Salmonfolk multimedia project:
https://www.salmonfolk.com
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