Restoring the Prairie: Stewardship on Sxʷəmənəxʷ with the Coast Salish Youth Coalition скачать в хорошем качестве

Restoring the Prairie: Stewardship on Sxʷəmənəxʷ with the Coast Salish Youth Coalition

Prairie restoration in the Salish Sea is not just environmental work — it is cultural knowledge being carried forward by the next generation. Today we traveled to Sxʷəmənəxʷ (Decatur Island) with the Coast Salish Youth Coalition for a day of learning, restoration, and community. Prairie ecosystems across the Salish Sea were shaped and maintained for generations through cultural burning and land stewardship practices by Coast Salish peoples. These landscapes were never “wild” in the colonial sense — they were carefully tended, cultivated, and sustained. During this gathering, youth worked alongside community members to support prairie restoration efforts, including preparing areas for controlled cultural burning. These practices help restore native plant communities, support biodiversity, and reconnect younger generations with traditional ecological knowledge. The day included: • Hands-on prairie restoration work • Cultural learning and ecological stewardship • Community gathering around the fire • Youth leadership and intergenerational teaching Restoration work like this is not just about the land — it is about relationships, responsibility, and continuity. Seeing young people step into this work reminds us that these teachings are alive and will continue for generations. Thank you to the Coast Salish Youth Coalition and the organizers who made this day possible. Location: Sxʷəmənəxʷ (Decatur Island), Salish Sea Topic: Prairie restoration and cultural burning Length: 13 minutes