This weekend honors two interconnected conservation holidays central to Braided River: National Public Lands Day and World Rivers Day. This year's theme, Caring for Our Shared America, reminds us that public lands connect communities for generations and our decisions are felt globally.
Founded on Seasons of Life and Land, a photographic journey through the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, to blossoming campaigns across the Pacific Northwest and around the world, Braided River uses exquisite photography and powerful storytelling to inspire the protection of wild places.
With the Colorado River Compact, drilling in America’s Arctic, the potential rescission of the Roadless Rule, and more on the table, we are grateful that you continue to join us in this fight.
Join Us for The Salmon Run: Stories That Connect Us This Tuesday!
Join us at Town Hall Seattle this Tuesday, September 29th at 7:30 PM for a dynamic multimedia presentation of stories and images from Amy Gulick’s The Salmon Way.
From Alaska to northern California, wild salmon have shaped the lands, waters, and cultures for millennia. Amy Gulick will share about the remarkable fish that provide a fundamental source of food, livelihood and identity, and connect generations of communities. Gulick is a two-time Braided River author, founding Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, and a recipient of the Daniel Housberg Wilderness Image Award from the Alaska Conservation Foundation.
Braided River Board Chair and Executive Director of Save Our wild Salmon, Joseph Bogaard will speak to actionable next steps, resources, and ways to get involved in the coalition. The Columbia Snake River Campaign will be tabling and Amy’s books will be for sale.
Learn more about The Salmon Run and purchase your ticket here. We hope to see you there!
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: A Fragile Home
Caribou on the Arctic Coastal Plain. © Paul Bannick
Braided River authors Lynda Mapes and Paul Bannick headlined the cover of The Seattle Times on Sunday with their newest piece: A Fragile Home. You’ll journey through the longest land migration following the Porcupine caribou herd, examine the impacts of melting sea ice on the densest polar bear denning site, and admire shimmering lakes, ponds, and streams from a birdseye view.
As fall approaches, gas corporations that have bid on Arctic leases will likely request permits for seismic testing. For the Gwich’in, or the caribou people, who rely on the land for subsistence, the impact of seismic testing is severe and everlasting. Read the full article and take action to protect The Sacred Place Where Life Begins.
This story is supported by the Braided River Overlooked & Untold Alaska Journalism Grant. Click here to support this work.
Guardians of Life Photographer, Kiliii Yüyan at Climate Week
With Climate Week wrapping up in New York City on Sunday, we were honored to support National Geographic Explorer and Guardians of Life photographer Kiliii Yüyan for Climate Stories from the Arctic. This panel discussion highlighted the work of storytellers from the Arctic who work to amplify the ways Indigenous values can safeguard Mother Earth, moderated by Gwich’in writer and film producer, Princess Daazhraii Johnson. From the impacts of climate change and extraction to cultural wellbeing and the interconnectedness of people and lands, Kiliii’s work added a global perspective on Indigenous rights.
Missed Climate Week or looking for more conversations on the profound impact of Indigenous stewardship on sustaining lands and communities? Join us at Town Hall Seattle for In Right and Respectful Relations: Indigenous Knowledge and the Future of Stewardship with Kiliii Yüyan and Jay Julius. Learn more about the Braided River November 13th event and purchase tickets, here.
Action item of the month
Comment Period Extended: Take Action for Roadless Area Protection
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving to withdraw Roadless Rule protections that prevent new taxpayer-funded logging roads and timber harvest in inventoried roadless areas. This reckless proposal could open 45 million acres of public lands, including beloved landscapes like the Tongass National Rainforest.
Whether you’re passionate about conservation, an avid outdoor recreationist, care about quality drinking water and produce, or think with your wallet, rescinding the Roadless Rule will impact you! There are several ways to take action: contact your members of Congress and urge them to protect the Roadless Rule or submit a public comment directly through the Federal Register before the October 6th deadline.