Sockeye Salmon swimming up the Adams River (Image credit: CFJC)

By Connor Gunn

SALUTE TO THE SOCKEYE

Dominant Adams River return year has Salute to the Sockeye stocked up

Oct 13, 2022 | 4:21 PM

SCOTCH CREEK — Hundreds of thousands of salmon swim up the Adams River to complete the beautiful cycle of life that is celebrated in the Salute to the Sockeye.

For the first time in the event’s history, the Little Shuswap Lake Band is leading the salmon run that will see more than 100,000 visitors view the spectacle throughout October and into November.

“Bringing everyone together to enjoy the land, enjoy the people, meeting new people it’s a beautiful thing I love it,” says Little Shuswap Lake Band Councillor Wesley Francois.

Every four years, the salmon complete their life cycle in the Adams River and compared to non-dominant years, 300,000 salmon will swim up the river.

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

11h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

18h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 12, 2024

Dec 12, 2024

“These salmon are coming back to where they were born to spawn to populate the next generation and end their life cycle and contribute to all the other species,” says Michelle Wiebe with BC Parks.

“It’s an epic journey that they’ve been on that takes about four years to complete. Now what we see in this dominant (year) is a lot of the salmon coming back and that’s what draws a lot of the visitors,” says Ken Benoit, Adams River Society President.

People come from all over Canada and the world to witness the salmon spawn and groups of children get to listen and learn about the long journey.

“I learned that salmon can hold oxygen in their throat and breathe underwater,” says one Grade 2 student.

“Learning about how the salmon could help the trees and also the other animals,” another student added.

“We also saw a salmon dissection so the kids got to see the innards of the fish. It’s really important that the kids get out into nature and spending the whole day out in the forest. That’s pretty much the goal,” says Elementary School Teacher Ingrid Van Varseveld.

As the bright red sockeyes’ lifespan is coming to a close, people get the chance to see the beautiful views and learn the history of the famous fish.

“It’s not about dollars and cents. It’s about us sharing our culture, our heritage, our language and the way we do things — the way we used to do things with the world. That’s what it’s about,” Francois adds.