Milestone Activities are designed to gather student research from each region in order to help other students to prepare for the treaty process. For instance, students in Seattle will publish information about Washington State salmon biology, habitat, culture, fisheries, and treaties as resources for the Vancouver, BC students who will serve as Washington State delegates in the Salmon Summit.

Look at Student Work to see what students have submitted for this Milestone Activity.

The Milestone for Salmon Treaties asks students to submit the following information:

1. What particular salmon runs are most threatened and in need of protection in your region?

Students will have gained a familiarity with the major salmon rivers and spawning runs. Their research will point out those species which are declining. As part of the response to this question, they might include explanations of the particular threats to the runs and even suggest what steps may help enhance salmon survival.

2. Who are the stakeholders in your region, and what are their particular demands for the treaty negotiations?

Students will have become familiar with the concept of stakeholders through their activities in this section. For this question, they should identify the stakeholder groups and make a summary of what each would hope to gain from an international salmon agreement. It will be useful for students to gain a knowledge of salmon treaties in the past in order to understand how various interests are balanced within the negotiations.

3. Describe the arguments that are made in your state or province in favor of the 1999 International Salmon Treaty.

4. Describe the arguments from your state or province that oppose the 1999 salmon treaty.

These questions ask students to learn about the most recent salmon treaty and to review some of the reaction to it from stakeholders and individuals in their region. Teachers may wish to use such strategies as debates in order to clarify these reactions, as well as to prepare students for the actual Summit in Vancouver.