SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane Public Library and the Spokane Tribe of Indians are partnering to present a new exhibit that examines the deep connection between tribal communities and Spokane River salmon across generations.
“Spokane River Salmon: Past. Present. Future.” opens September 19 and runs through November 30 at Central Library. The exhibit brings together watercolor paintings, pen-and-ink drawings, dioramas and replica fishing tools created by Spokane Tribal artist George Hill, alongside historic photographs and documents from the library’s Inland Northwest Special Collections and resources from the Spokane Tribe’s Anadromous Program.
The exhibit highlights the Spokane Tribe’s Anadromous Program, a major initiative aimed at restoring salmon populations to the Spokane River. Since 2022, the Spokane Tribe has collaborated with the Upper Columbia United Tribes, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Coeur d’Alene Tribe to release approximately 10,000 adult summer Chinook salmon and hundreds of thousands of juvenile salmon into waters upstream of regional dams.
Events:
The opening reception takes place Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m. at Central Library.
On Thursday, October 1 at 10:30 a.m., George Hill will discuss his artwork in a conversation with Nisbet.
Conor Giorgi will lead a discussion on Tuesday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m. about current and future efforts to restore Spokane River salmon populations.
On Thursday, October 15 at 11 a.m., Nisbet will present a slideshow exploring early visitors’ journals and artwork that reveal historical perspectives on the Spokane watershed and ecology.
All programs are free and open to the public.
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