Join us to listen, watch and discover about the wonder of rivers with ‘I am the Elwha’. This workshop will highlight the importance of rivers and offer a celebration to all rivers for World Rivers Day (September 24th).
This 60 minute workshop will be jam packed with interactive learning to help you and your students connect to rivers. Stay until the end for prizes!
Watch the Recording Here
Includes a live reading, presentation and Q&A with the creators. This workshop will be recorded and available until the end of World Rivers Day for educators to show in their classroom or other educational setting and families to watch!
The Elwha River flows 72 kilometres (45 miles) from its source in the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the Pacific Northwest. Uniquely, it hosts all six salmon species (Pink, Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Chum) as well as several species of trout.
In 1911 two dams were built on the river. The dams blocked the migration routes of the salmon and dramatically altered the entire river ecosystem for 100 years. In 2012 the dams were decommissioned and the world’s largest dam removal and habitat restoration project began.
This lyrical story, which chronicles the history of the Elwha River, is written by Lori Peelen. Robert Elofson, Tribal Elder and Harvest Manager in the Natural Resources Department for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribes, approved Lori’s work and contributed to the book. Lori’s story was further approved by Frances Charles, the Tribal Councilwoman for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, after the entire council read and approved it.
You can get your copy of ‘I am the Elwha’ here.
The workshop presenters:
Tribal Elder, Robert Elofson, is a member of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe located in Port Angeles, Washington. Born in 1952, he has lived most of his life there, and today lives with extended family on their property along the Elwha River. Robert trained as a fisheries biologist and holds degrees in both physics and biology. During his career, he dedicated fifteen years of his life as the Elwha River Restoration Director. Robert currently is the Harvest Manager in the Natural Resources Department for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. He has always enjoyed commercial fishing over the years and today continues to fish.
Lori (Fisher) Peelen lives on the Central Coast of California with her husband, three towering sons and assortment of cats, dogs, wandering hens, and one ancient horse. She spent years homeschooling her own kids and teaching other people’s kids as a Speech Therapist/Special Ed teacher. Lori blogs at streamriffs.com, and is the author of Big Fish Dreams, I Am the Elwha, and Root Beer in Heaven.
Laura Timmermans is the illustrator of several west coast children’s books, including Hideaway Cove, A Night at Hideaway Cove, and I Am the Elwha (Riverby Award winner). Growing up in Ucluelet sparked Laura’s enthusiasm for the natural world. Her career as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer allows her to spend many hours in nature. Laura lives with her family on Vancouver Island and walks in the forest nearly every day. To check out more of her work, visit lauratimmermans.ca
You can get your copy of ‘I am the Elwha’ here.
