Scrambling to get my story in this week! This week’s photo is from Erin Leary, and I’m guessing this photo was taken not far from where I live. When I saw the it, on Wednesday, I knew just where I wanted to go, but haven’t had a moment to write, and then forgot to link up! For more information about Friday Fictioneers, visit Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog Addicted to Purple. We have her to thank for this weekly gem! As always, I welcome honest, constructive feedback. Please leave a comment.
A GIANT MAZEL TOV to Sandra Crook for her win in Flash 500. For those of us who know her writing, it’s no surprise; her talent is enormous!
© Erin Leary
The Salmon Run
Hand-carved paddles cut through the still water, as rosy light builds. A great blue heron’s powerful wings beat the still air.
“Father, will we fish today?”
“No son. We will gather shellfish, and bark for the women. We will fish with the village, when the salmon come.”
“Will they come? The Whites eat so much—will there be enough for us?”
The father was silent, his brow furrowed but his canoe strokes strong and confident.
“It is true; the Whites eat more than their share, but the salmon have always found their way to our nets. This will never change.”
(Word count: exactly 100)
More: I live in a magical place where the Coast Salish First Nation tribes have lived and fished since 3000 BCE. After white settlers “discovered” the Pacific NW, Salmon became king, and at one point the cannery in Bellingham, WA was the largest in the world. Today, salmon preservation is the focus. Local Lummi tribes still fish traditionally, and work towards sustainability, but their fishing livelihood was forever changed, and the Pacific salmon is today fighting so many threats to its survival.
* * *
Help Me Reach My Goals! KAPOW! The Tales From the Motherland Facebook page recently hit the 2015 goal of 800 likes (which I set after hitting the 700 mark)! I’m going big 2016 and aiming for 1,200!! Have you stopped by to spread some fairy dust? Follow me on Twitter, LeBron James does (yes, for real)! Most importantly, if you like a post I’ve written, hit Like and leave a comment. Honest, constructive feedback is always appreciated. Click Follow; you’ll get each new post delivered by email, no spam. ©2011-2016 All content and images on this site are copyrighted to Dawn Quyle Landau and Tales From the Motherland, unless specifically noted otherwise. If you want to share my work, I’m grateful, but please give proper credit and Link back to my work; plagiarism sucks!
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
Dawn, your story achieves a perfect balance of art and commentary. Speaking as a native and a recent resident of the area, your story strikes a resonant chord with me. I came to know a few of the Lummi Tribe during my time there, and your story captures the heart of their culture and their challenges for sustainability. Well done! – Mike
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mike. It was a challenge. I wanted to use some authentic words, names, etc… but research proved tricky, and I didn’t want to end up with a story that smacked of interpretation. I appreciate your feedback; thanks!
LikeLike
Pingback: Friday Fictioneers: The Salmon Run | ugiridharaprasad
Thanks so much; I appreciate you sharing my work!
LikeLike
Dear Dawn,
I love this story on a number of levels. My one go to food, Salmon is being GMO’d and tainted. This breaks my heart as does what the Whites (and others) have taken from the indigenous. I have to echo Mike. Perfect balance between story and commentary. Well done. (Glad you made it this week. 😉 )
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Rochelle. Your feedback means a lot to me and this is wonderful praise. Much appreciated, friend.
LikeLike
Loved this one. Sad state of affairs indeed.
LikeLike
Thanks Dale. Sad, sad, indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with Rochelle. This is nice balance of commentary and story. Oh, how I love salmon. I always question where it comes from, etc, when I eat it. Great story, Dawn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I only eat wild salmon, and in our area, it is still sustainable and delicious. However, I fear all of the seas are being depleted, and salmon is certainly not immune!
LikeLike
Lovely piece, Dawn. I felt the beauty of nature and the sadness of a people committed to preserving it. xo
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by Julie! It’s always a pleasant surprise and delight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s hope the fish will still find their way to their nets despite all the challenges of overfishing, disease and climate change… such a beautiful story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much GAH. Such kind, thoughtful feedback; it’s really appreciated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A timely piece of writing on a current subject that needs to be addressed.
Our food sources are being destroyed in many, many areas.
Let’s hope change will occur before it’s too late. Nicely done !!!
Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen, Isadora! Such a charged and disturbing reality, that’s so hard to look at, because it’s so huge to address! Thanks for your feedback.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a cracker of an opening sentence. I felt myself sinking eagerly into what I just knew was going to be an equally cracking story. And thanks for the mention, Dawn. Hope you’ve been able to get the link working.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t ask for better praise, from a writer I so admire. Thank you so much, Sandra. I’m honored.
LikeLike
What a beautiful, natural scene. It’s such a sad thing that the balance achieved by people for so many thousands of years has been so rapidly overturned in modern times. Your story tells it beautifully, and the extra information is very interesting.
LikeLike
This is lovely and remnds me of driving through Canada with my son who married a Canadian.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I live near Canada, but this has happened from sea to shining sea! Thanks for the feedback, Liz; it’s much appreciated!
LikeLike
Thanks Margaret. Yes, the “advances” of modern man make me pause… pretty regularly. Thanks for taking the time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is there anything Whites did not ruin? I wonder…A very powerful story, Dawn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think not, sadly… thanks Loré!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely story, Dawn. It’s a great thing people have finally realized the salmon need help to survive. It seems these efforts always come at the last minute. But at lease they come. Well done as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Suzanne. Let’s hope it goes better for the Pacific Salmon, than it did for the Atlantic… unfortunately, efforts don’t always come in time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it – I was hoping someone would do a native oriented piece!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read your mind, Erin. 😉 Wonderful prompt; thanks!
LikeLike