What is a nation? Some literalists associate a nation with only a political entity, such as the United States of America. The USA has seen quite a bit of this sort of nationalism lately, expressed in the unfortunate priorities of the defense of American turf with little regard to the defense of the democratic ideals with which the American nation was founded.
There are others, however, who have a more creative and positive vision of nationhood. They see that there are many models of nationhood that exist within the mind, and overlap each other, with boundaries criss-crossing boundaries. Among these are the people behind Salmon Nation. They declare:
” When you declare your citizenship in Salmon Nation, you are joining a community of people across the region who feel that our natural boundaries define our identity as much as our political boundaries. So, we are not just citizens of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia or Alaska — we are citizens of Salmon Nation.”
A nation defined by salmon? Why not? Salmon once formed the economic foundation of the entire region. The natural history of salmon is at the core of what it means to be in the Pacific Northwest, regardless of the political nation in which one resides. All the states and provinces in the Northwest are suffering as the salmon suffers from overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution. From a certain perspective, Salmon Nation makes a lot more sense than nationality distinguished according to when and how one escaped the kings and queens of England.
The point of Salmon Nation is not to form an insurrection against the United States and Canada. Rather, the point is to help protect the salmon and open people’s minds so that they can see that some problems cross international political borders. The solutions for those problems can cross political borders too.
What many people forget is that the Northwest isn’t the only place where salmon are in trouble. There are Atlantic salmon as well as Pacific salmon. In the watersheds around the Great Lakes, for example, exotic species like lampreys and zebra mussels are affecting aquatic ecosystems in a way that is harming local salmon populations.
Could communities in the East band together to join Salmon Nation, or their own equivalent?
Sounds like a nice idea.
You ask a good question — could east coasters join the Salmon Nation community? Why not? I’m concerned and enthralled by the conservation and economy of far off places like Navaishu in Kenya.Yet still hoping that the magnificent fish beasts of the Columbia basin survive. I can care about the terns off Cape Codd, too. All if it ties in to what and how I consume stuff. I love the Salmon Nation tack because it’s so open ended — it’s inherently hopeful and hoping to inspire all of the little things that can build a conservation economy. In the NW and anywhere.