Another stroke forward for the River Clinics program and our on-the-water learnings

Rivershed spent the summer connecting people with the Fraser Watershed and each other through in-person and on-the-water programs. As we reflect on all we learned this summer, we are excited to share this small selection of photos to sum up our 2023 River Clinics journey. We are so grateful for the opportunities we have had to listen and learn about regional Watershed CPR efforts. Thank you to everyone who connected with us this summer!

Our on-the-water programming kicked off on the Nechako River, in Vanderhoof B.C., on the traditional territory of the Saik’uz First Nation. In collaboration with the Nechako Watershed Roundtable, youth were guided down the Nechako River in Voyageur canoes on two separate day-long paddles. Each day was begun by Elder and Councilor of Saik’uz First Nation, Rodney Teed, who provided an opening prayer and words of guidance for the day on the river. Cultural facilitator, Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation Councilor, Mark Barfoot provided amazing insight, knowledge, drumming, songs, Dakelh language lessons and stories throughout the day. Skillful guides, facilitators and the Mayor of Vanderhoof, Kevin Moutray, made the weekend a wonderful, successful event.

Two Voyageur canoes full of people are pulled up at the shore of Riverside Park in Vanderhoof, B.C. on the traditional territory of the Saik’uz First Nation. Two people are standing in the water, holding the canoes, and everyone is looking at the camera and smiling. It is a cloudy, overcast day. — Voyageur canoes arriving at Riverside Park in Vanderhoof on the traditional territory of the Saik’uz First Nation after paddling a section of the Nechako River. Photo by Jordan Cranmer.

For more information about the Nechako youth paddles, you can read this brief summary from the Nechako Watershed Roundtable, and for a more in-depth account of the weekend, please see the Summer edition of their newsletter.

After the Nechako River Clinic, the Rivershed team headed east to the Fraser Headwaters region to foster connections with collaborators. Team members stopped at the historic Goat River Trail, which is being restored by the Fraser Headwaters Alliance, and were thrilled to find old signatures in the logbook at the trailhead from Rivershed’s founder, current and former board members, and other dedicated Rivershed supporters and collaborators.

Three Rivershed team members stand on the rocky shores of the confluence of the Goat and Milk Rivers on the left side of the image. The silt-grey colored water of the Milk River mixes with the clear water of the Goat River in the foreground of the image. A forest of tall evergreens is in the background. It is an overcast day. — Justin, Keeley, and John at the confluence of the Milk and Goat Rivers in the Fraser Headwaters region. Photo by John Marquis.

Next, Rivershed piloted a new River Clinic on Horsefly Lake, in the traditional territory of the Secwépemc First Nation. Collaborators from Ducks Unlimited, Fraser Basin Council, Scout Island Nature Centre, and the Tŝilhqot’in National Government joined Rivershed for a day-long canoe journey to exchange knowledge and insights about regional watershed concerns, fostering a unique platform for dialogue and collaboration.

An aerial shot of a white Voyageur canoe named 'Cedar Spirit' with nine people wearing lifejackets aboard, paddling on Horsefly Lake in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region, in Secwépemc First Nation territory. It is a calm, sunny day and the water is so clear that you can see the lake bottom in the photograph. — Cariboo River Clinic participants paddle the Voyageur canoe 'Cedar Spirit' on the crystal clear waters Horsefly Lake, B.C., in the traditional territory of the Secwépemc First Nation. Photo by Aleena Oates.

In the foreground, ten people are standing in front of a large white canoe on a gravel beach on the shore of Horsefly Lake. Behind them is the riffled blue water of Horsefly Lake in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region, in Secwépemc First Nation territory. Green coniferous trees line the shore across the lake in the background of the photo. — This fantastic group was brought together by Cedar Spirit. Big canoes can make big impacts on small communities.

Two children are standing in front of a table covered with painting supplied and a red and white checkered tablecloth. Two Rivershed team members are standing behind the table and are helping the youth make salmon prints. Behind the two Rivershed members hang painted pictures of the Salmon. — After the paddle, Rivershed team members set up tables at the Horsefly River Salmon Festival, an annual event organized by the Horsefly River Roundtable to celebrate the return of Sockeye salmon. In this photo, Rivershed team members are helping young artists make salmon prints. Photo by Aleena Oates.

Rivershed wrapped up summer with three days of guided Voyageur canoe trips on the Lower Fraser River, from September 22 to 24. On the Friday, we embarked on a paddle from Mission to Langley, followed by a journey from Langley to Coquitlam on Saturday. The weekend culminated on our favourite day of the year, World Rivers Day, with a paddle from Coquitlam to McDonald Beach Park in Richmond. Huge thank you to Rivers Day founder, Mark Angelo for stopping by to send us off on our journey. These three days saw us navigating through the beautiful shared, unceded territories of the Stó:lō, Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Matsqui, Kwikwetlem, Qayqayt, Musqueam and Tsawwassen First Nations.

Two Voyageur canoes full of smiling people ready to paddle are tied to the Mission Harbour Authority dock on the Lower Fraser River. A canoe skipper is standing on the dock. The Mission Railway bridge stands out in the background against the blue sky and water. — Lower Fraser paddlers are ready for a day of on-the-water learnings and sunshine as they prepare to paddle from Mission to Langley on Friday, September 22. Shortly after pushing off, they were treated to the sight of a sturgeon breaching! Photo by Keeley Nixon.

Some of the canoe day participants are pictured from behind as they paddle up Hannah Creek, a small tributary of the Fraser River in Abbottsford, B.C., in the shared territory of the Stó:lō, Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo and Matsqui First Nations. Both sides of the creek are lined with tall grass and conifer trees. There is a cow standing in the tall grass on the right-hand side of the creekbank, staring at the paddlers. The sun is shining brightly in a clear blue sky. — The Fraser River wasn't the only waterway the paddlers experienced. Participants also enjoyed the stunning scenery at Hannah Creek, in Abbotsford, B.C. Photo by Keeley Nixon.

In the foreground of the photo are 8 paddlers and a skipper in the back half of a Voyageur canoe on the Lower Fraser River, smiling for the camera shortly after they pass under the Golden Ears Bridge between Langley and Pitt Meadows, B.C., on the shared territory of the Stó:lō, Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, and Matsqui First Nations. The pilings of the bridge, a second Voyageur canoe and the tree line are shown in the background. — A view from a canoe: Looking back at the paddlers and the second canoe during the Langley to Coquitlam paddle on Saturday, September 23. Photo by Keeley Nixon.

Photo taken from near the back of a Voyageur canoe on the Fraser River. Bottom half of photo is of people sitting in the canoe, wearing lifejackets and holding red paddles, looking away from the camera towards the New Westminster Quay, which is visible in the background of the image. Behind the Quay are some of the tall buildings that make up the New Westminster skyline. — We celebrated BC Rivers Day, Sunday, September 24, with a paddle from Coquitlam to Richmond. Here we are approaching the the New Westminster Quay, where some other members of Rivershed ‘s team were connecting with people via our table at RiverFest. Photo by Keeley Nixon.

A female Rivershed team member is sitting behind two tables and smiling at the camera. There is a large banner in front of the table to promote Rivershed and shows photos from Rivershed’s programming. Promotional and informational material, merchandise, and an interactive spin-the-wheel game is on the table in front of the woman. — Some members of Rivershed's team were at RiverFest on the New Westminster Quay, and gave us a wave as we passed by in the canoes. RiverFest is an annual family-friendly event hosted by the Fraser River Discovery Centre, and is one of B.C's largest river-related festivals. Photo by Elise Carelse.

A group of twenty-six people are standing and crouching in two rows, wearing blue lifejackets and holding red paddles. They just completed a paddle from Coquitlam to Richmond and are posing for a photo in the parking lot at McDonald Beach Park in Richmond BC. It is a rainy day, the ground is wet and the sky is a dark grey. — Group shot after the final paddle, wrapping up our on-the-water season for 2023 on BC Rivers Day. Despite the rain, we had a great day on the Lower Fraser River!

Thank you to everyone who connected with us through in-person and on-the-water programs this summer. We extend our gratitude for the invaluable opportunities we’ve had to engage with and learn from the passionate individuals supporting regional Watershed CRP efforts. All of us here at Rivershed look forward to learning more. Be sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter, Rivershed Stories!

A big thank you to the following organizations for supporting the Watershed Movement:

Nechako Watershed Roundtable
Fraser Basin Council and Fraser Basin Council Youth Program
MakeWay
Voyageur Adventures
Horsefly River Roundtable
Spruce City Wildlife Association
Fraser River Discovery Centre

And an extra special thank you to the funders that help us make this work possible!

River Clinics is funded by the Government of Canada under the Community Services Recovery Fund.

The Government of Canada delivered the Community Services Recovery Fund through three National Funders – Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and United Way Centraide Canada. The National Funders distributed funding to eligible community service organizations, including charities, non-profits, and Indigenous governing bodies, providing services in communities across Canada. In British Columbia, the fund is administered by United Way British Columbia working with communities in BC’s North, Interior, Lower Mainland and Central & Northern Vancouver Island.

Additional funding support provided by the Province of British Columbia and the MakeWay Foundation – Patagonia.

We can’t do it alone – sign up today to join the Watershed Movement