CONNECT AND PROTECT – OCEAN TOOLKIT

June 1

HOWE ABOUT HOWE SOUND

Do you ever wonder about Howe Sound? How it is, that we have rivers flowing out to sea and tides that shift and an estuary. That Howe Sound is a fjord, formed nearly 10,000 years ago. And the Coast Salish People, have lived and breathed this ocean air and navigated these waters, bringing forward a culture rich in language, stories and wisdom of these traditional lands. And from this, we can learn.

INSPIRE & EMPOWER - SHARING VOICES

Nolan Rudkowsky and Jonathan Williams, Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw

WHERE DOES THE SALISH SEA FLOW

Oceans transcend physical borders. We are all connected by waterways, around the globe. What we do in our backyard matters. We make an impact here and are impacted by the actions of others.

Here in Squamish/ Skwxwú7mesh , Howe Sound/ Atl’kitsem is part of the Salish Sea.

“The Salish Sea is one of the world’s largest and biologically rich inland seas. Its name pays tribute to the first inhabitants of the region, the Coast Salish.
The Salish Sea is an inland sea that encompasses Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and the waters off of Vancouver, BC. The area spans from Olympia, Washington in the south to the Campbell River, British Columbia in the north, and west to Neah Bay and includes the large cities of Seattle and Vancouver.”

Source: The Sea Doc Society

Dive Deeper Here
https://www.seadocsociety.org/about-the-salish-sea
https://www.seadocsociety.org/junior-seadoctors

FACTUALLY, IT’S THE SALISH SEA

SO HOW CAN SOMETHING SO INCREDIBLE, BE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE

Our planet is 71% water. And what are we, without water? Every one of us and every living thing, needs water to thrive and survive.

Our oceans are vast and beautiful. They have also been working overtime, to help protect us from things like Climate Change. Oceans absorb large amounts of excess carbon dioxide, causing problems like Ocean Acidification, which is not good for any living creature in the sea. It’s also not good for you nor me.
An Experiment - https://climatekids.nasa.gov/acid-ocean/

What Other Issues Do Our Oceans Face?

Howe About, Howe Sound and The Salish Sea?

An amazing group called Ocean Watch is working hard to learn more about the problems, in order to work more effectively for the solutions and positive change.

https://oceanwatch.ca/howesound/

Squamish resident and passionate environmental advocate, Tracey Saxby, of www.myseatosky.org is part of that team.

Projects like these can and will make a whole lot of difference. In fact, each of us can. Especially when we work together. Find out about their research and what is being done. Check out the scientifically based ratings that have been assigned - healthy, caution, critical and in some cases, not enough data to make an assessment.

Click onto any one of the links that you are curious about, to expand your learning.
I triple dog ocean dare you.

https://oceanwatch.ca/howesound/welcome/snapshot-assessment/

AND WHAT ABOUT PLASTIC?

It seems to be here. It seems to be there. In fact, it seems to be everywhere.
We see it on beaches around the globe. We see pieces of plastic on shorelines at home. Plastic wrapped items on every shelf. Plastic wrapped plastic, I think to myself. Yikes – how can this be. Pieces of Styrofoam floating at sea. Plastic bottles and cutlery that land at our feet.
And where do they go.
For they don’t go away.
These millions of toys and pieces do stay.
But here is the thing. There are people who care. I know this. I’ve seen it. In fact, everywhere.
People cleaning up beaches. Picking up trash. People helping out creatures, caught in a mess.
One less, piece of plastic, really does matter. We all play a role in making this better.
So please take a pause, and a good look around.
This planet is beautiful. Let’s do our job.
Pack up your bottle, to use every time.
Choose things with less plastic, they’re really divine.
Less over More.
Unless it is Love.
In this case, our Oceans say thank you, for the above.

Mamquam Elementary School, Intermediate Classes
Ocean Clean Up & Garbage Art, June 2018

DIVE DEEPER

Take a Look at What https://ocean.org/ has to Share .
#BePlasticWise

Here in our community, we have a lot of folks, who really do care.
People who love getting out on the ocean and seeing what’s there.
I am grateful for this.
And I am grateful for this Squamish Wave of Change.

So Throw out a ‘Hang 5’ or maybe a ‘Hang 10’
BE INSPIRED. BE EMPOWERED – HAVE A LISTEN

AWESOME RIGHT!
FEELING INSPIRED, TO TAKE A STAND TO PROTECT HOWE SOUND AND THE SALISH SEA
https://www.takeastandforconservation.com/

During World Ocean week, the Take a Stand team asks you to take a stand for our oceans by entering our contest open to all students! So pick up your phone or camera and create a video to enter our contest and win cool prizes. You can do this on your own or involve your entire family. Tell us about what you love about our oceans and marine life and why they need our protection. Relay your fresh ideas about how we can reduce ocean plastic wastes and other sources of ocean pollution, create protected areas for your favorite marine animals, or tackle climate change. Or simply tell the world about the beauty of what our oceans provide – Protect what you love.

Stay Tuned - On World Oceans Day, young Squamish students – Lilly and Ava – tell us why they entered the Take a Stand contest followed by their beautiful video creation.

WANT TO EXPLORE MORE

Orca Readers
Whale in the Door, by Pauline Le Bel
http://whaleinthedoor.com/

Dolphin Readers
Explore The Salish Sea – A Nature Guide For Kids
(You can search for an Indie Book Store with a Canadian city as well)
https://www.seadocsociety.org/explore-the-salish-sea-a-nature-guide-for-kids

THIS IS MY SEA TO SKY

CONNECT TO THE SEA

(A snippet of World Oceans Day programming)
There WILL be a Dance Party – on Monday June 8th.
And it’s up to you, to throw it in the ‘hood.
You can share one with your classroom, outside with your family, or crank up the tunes, to share it with your neighbours.
Let’s Get This Party Started.
Get into Your Groove.
Throw Together a Playlist.
For a World Oceans Day Mood.
And a Squamish Wave of Change -

PS. REALLY CONNECT TO THE OCEAN – AND STEP OUTSIDE
WHEREVER YOU ARE.
PLEASE STEP OUT IN AIR.
IT NEED’NT BE FAR.
BUT YOU MUST TAKE GOOD CARE.
CHECK OUT THE SUN.
SPLASH IN THE RAIN.
BE SURE TO REPEAT, AGAIN AND AGAIN.
If you can visit a river or a stream, that is fab. Look all around, and see what is rad.
If the ocean does call, and you really can go.
Please go there and breathe. Saltwater For the Soul.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, IN A SQUAMISH WAVE OF CHANGE.