Episode 26 – Josie Kamkoff – Tribal Water Utilities Operator Program Development Lead

In Episode 26 of NW Fish Passage, Annika Fain interviews Josie Kamkoff. Josie is a tribal water utilities operator program development lead at Northwest Indian College (NWIC). She is of Lummi and Yupik descent. She mostly grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and spent summers in Lummi, Washington. She is passionate about the environment and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Native Environmental Science from NWIC. She is developing a tribal water utilities operator certification program. She provides insight into the program and why it is so important. Also, she talks about her hopes and vision for the future. Enjoy!     Websites ·         Northwest Indian College (NWIC): https://www.nwic.edu/ ·         Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program: https://www.epa.gov/tribaldrinkingwater/tribal-drinking-water-operator-certification-program

In Episode 25 of NW Fish Passage, Annika Fain interviews Bethany Fackrell. Bethany is a Tribal Gaming Commissioner, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe member, artist, and veteran. She participated in the Tribal WaterCorps program. Bethany talks about what salmon means for her, her experience participating in canoe journeys, habitat restoration, and the WaterCorps program. She also talks about her art work, hopes for the future, and advice for indigenous youth interested in the Tribal WaterCorps program. Enjoy!  Websites ·       Kokanee of the Moon: https://www.fws.gov/media/kokanee-moonbethany-fackrellsnoqualmie2023jpg ·       A Deep Conservation Connection: https://www.fws.gov/story/2023-11/story-service-bethany-fackrell ·       Bureau of Indian Affairs – WaterCorps Program: https://stewardslegacy.org/watercorps ·       IG: tradish_ish

In Episode 24 of NW Fish Passage, Annika Fain interviews Kayeloni Scott. Kayeloni is an enrolled Spokane Tribal Member with strong Nez Perce ancestry. From 2017-2022, she served as the Communications Manager for the Nez Perce Tribe, then American Rivers as the Communications Director for the Northwest Region for over a year. She has continued her work with the Nez Perce Tribe, providing communications consulting on Lower Snake River issues, is a co-producer for Covenant of the Salmon People, and was recently appointed as Executive Director for the Columbia/Snake River Campaign. She plays a critical role in advocating for the four lower Snake River dams. In this episode she shares her experience growing up with salmon, why salmon are important to her, the Nez Perce creation story, Covenant of the Salmon film, and Children of the Setting Sun. Websites mentioned in this episode can be found on the nwfishpassage.com website.   Enjoy!    https://columbiasnakeriver.com/ https://www.salmonorcaproject.com/ https://covenantofthesalmonpeople.com/media https://settingsunproductions.org/

In this episode, Annika Fain interviews Gabe Ng. Gabe is a Fish Passage Design Manager for the WSDOT NW Region Fish Passage Program. He is passionate about improving the environment and collaborating with a variety of people and disciplines. Gabe provides insight into important aspects of fish passage. Annika and Gabe discuss their experience in the fish passage realm and future opportunities. Gabe also provides advice to young professionals.  Website links that are mentioned in the podcast are located at nwfishpassage.com and below. Enjoy! ·         (WSDOT) Fish Passage summary and link to annual report maps, and videos: https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/protecting-environment/fish-passage ·         SR542 Squalicum Creek to Bellingham Bay Fish Passage:: https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/sr-542-squalicum-creek-bellingham-bay-fish-passage-complete-november-2023 ·         SR542 Squalicum Creek Construction (August 3, 2023) - SR 542 Squalicum creek to Bellingham Bay Fish Passage project timelapse, part 1 (youtube.com)

In this episode, Annika Fain interviews Karin Strelioff. Karin is the Conservation Programs Manager with the Thurston Conservation District. She specializes in marine shoreline stewardship, green stormwater infrastructure, PNW native plants, and conservation focused land management. Karin talks about her motivation, conservation districts, Shore Friendly, and provides advice to young professionals. Learn more at nwfishpassage.com. Enjoy!

In this episode, Annika Fain interviews Rena Priest. Rena Priest is an enrolled member of the Lhaq'temish (Lummi) Nation. She served two years as Washington State's 6th Poet Laureate (2021-2023). Her work has been recognized with awards and fellowships from the Allied Arts Foundation, Academy of American Poets, Indigenous Nations Poets, University of Washington Libraries, and Nia Tero. She is the author of three books and editor of two anthologies, including I Sing the Salmon Home: Poems from Washington State. Learn more at nwfishpassage.com and renapriest.com. Enjoy!  

In this episode, April McEwen, River Restoration Project Manager at American Rivers, talks about a variety of dam removal projects she is involved in. She discusses projects she has done since our last podcast about the Middle Fork Nooksack Fish Passage in 2020 (Episode 7).  She talks in detail about the Barrel Springs and Kellogg Creek dam removal projects. April talks about the importance of partnerships and collaboration in both of these projects. Barrel Springs was completed last summer in Skagit County, Washington. This project involved removing a 12-foot-tall dam and providing access to a natural cold-water springs. The Kellogg Creek Restoration and Community Enhancement Project will include removing a dam that blocks 14 acres of habitat in Milwaukee, Oregon. NOAA has awarded 15 million federal infrastructure grant to the Kellogg Project for stream health, salmon, transportation, and access to nature. For more websites referred to in this episode please visit: nwfishpassage.com. Enjoy!    

In this episode, Annika interviews Emily Howe, an aquatic and estuarine ecologist at The Nature Conservancy of Washington.   She holds a Ph.D. from the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington, with a focus on estuarine restoration and food web ecology in tidally-influenced ecosystems.  Emily’s work integrates across ecosystem boundaries, investigating how landscape configuration and management shapes cross-boundary relationships for food webs, organisms, and ecosystem processes.  She is currently working at the nexus of forest management impacts on snow, stormwater pollution and green infrastructure, and freshwater and marine restoration ecology- all with an eye towards the impacts of climate change.   Enjoy!  

In this episode, Annika Fain interviews Darrell Gray. Since 1995, Darrell has been a project manager at Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA). The NSEA team enhances river, creek, and riparian habitat while educating people of all ages to provide Pacific salmon and Steelhead the best chance at survival. Since 2005, Darrell has facilitated the removal of 132 culverts that were partial or full barriers to fish passage and opened up over 160 miles of upstream habitat. He is excited about upcoming projects that will open up many more miles of upstream habitat. He encourages people to follow your passion and be persistent.  Enjoy!    

In this episode, Annika Fain interviews Debra Lekanoff, a Washington State Representative. Debra represents the 40th legislative district and is currently the only Native American woman that serves in the Legislature. She is part Tlingit, salmon people, and part Aleut, seal people, from Southeast Alaska, and has lived in the Skagit Valley for over 20 years. She has over 20 years of government experience and has brought people together to collaborate on many issues. Debra talks about what salmon and the natural environment mean to her. She presents critical ideas about conservation and creating a common baseline for restoration. Debra provides advice on how scientists and engineers can interact more effectively with the public. Also, she talks about legislation that will benefit generations to come. Enjoy!