© The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
Tribal and First Nations leaders, aquaculture students, researchers and natural resource professionals from across the Pacific Northwest will gather at the second annual Pacific Northwest Indigenous Aquaculture Summit, hosted by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. The event will take place in Sequim, Washington.
The gathering, organised by the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation (KGASF), will welcome representatives from 18 Northwest Tribes, along with a delegation from the Northeastern Region of the United States. The summit aims to celebrate the enduring legacy and future promise of Indigenous aquaculture by bringing communities together to share knowledge and strengthen connections.
“This conference is about coming together as Tribal communities. Our waters and our foods tie us to who we are. By sharing knowledge across Tribal Nations, we strengthen those connections and create lasting opportunities for our children and grandchildren to thrive, earn a living, and provide for our communities,” said Jaiden Grinnell Bosick, KGASF president, in a press release.
Bosick added that through collaborative discussions, scientific presentations and cultural exchange, participants will explore how Tribal communities are blending ancestral wisdom with modern innovation to restore access to abundant seafood, expand Tribal enterprises and advance restorative aquaculture practices.
Key topics include:
- Reviving and honoring ancestral aquaculture traditions.
- Sustainable production of finfish, shellfish and sea vegetables.
- Tribal-led innovation, marketing and enterprise development.
- Strategies for shaping effective natural resource policy and advocacy.
The Summit continues the vision of the late Kurt Grinnell, a respected Tribal leader, aquaculture pioneer and descendant of Chief Chetzemoka. As the vice chair of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council and a representative on numerous regional and national boards, Kurt championed Tribal sovereignty and food security. Guided by the principle of planning “Seven Generations Ahead,” he worked tirelessly to ensure that aquaculture would remain a source of strength and resilience for Indigenous communities. The Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation was established in his honor in 2021.
