Drawn to Nature

written by Mindy Roberts

When I begin to feel overwhelmed by just how much needs to be done to leave a legacy for future generations, I find myself drawn to water. One of my refuges is a place with towering trees and healthy salmon streams that lies just a few miles from dense urban areas – it’s health is thanks to the foresight that people had generations before me. It’s not a museum piece, but a key reminder of what we could lose entirely if we don’t alter course from business as usual. I’ve had the privilege of kayaking in different parts of the Salish Sea, which changes your physical perspective by viewing the world from the water and at a slow pace. I’ve seen people fishing in places I know to be polluted, and I realize that not fishing is not an option – it’s not about simply the calories the fish provide, but the cultural connections. I’ve been inspired by restoration actions by tribes, protests by young people, and reminders from people of color that inequities persist. And I’ve also heard the exclamations of joy from kids and adults alike as they rediscover the natural world around them while seeking solace from a worldwide pandemic. A healthy Salish Sea is a necessity, and not a luxury that only a few deserve to experience.