Tribal nations from across the Northwest and representatives from several supporting groups joined together in-person and virtually for the R.U.N. in Unity Convening conference, hosted at the Tulalip Resort & Casino Nov. 1-2. The gathering was formed to "amplify voices and urgency behind making changes in the Northwest to recover and restore salmon in the Lower Snake River and Columbia Basin," according to a news release. Many attending the conference said they hoped to give voice to the land and remind all decision-makers about the importance of protecting it. "The message that I see is, us here as human beings, as traveled people, to be able to speak on the rights of our water, our salmon, our orcas," said Carlos Calica of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. "The animals in the water can't speak. It's our way of life and our beliefs that we can relate ourselves to the gifts that were given to us from our creator, and speak for them." READ MORE: https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/tribal-nations-join-together-demand-action-for-salmon-orcas-water-quality/281-28f1ed1f-4ae9-4bee-9ced-9162c2a659d8