Action Grantee Jessica Plumb released her film Safe Passage in the Salish Sea in March and the results of it's impact are already strong. Since the film went live there's been real progress on both distribution goals defined by the project:
building public awareness and commitment
reaching out to key stakeholders on both sides of the border
On the public front, the film was tied to a petition to designate the Salish Sea as a "Particularly Sensitive Sea Area" (PSSA) and promoted heavily through social media. "PSSA" is a new term for most people, and the film was designed to offer context for this proposal. To date, the petition to designate the Salish Sea as a PSSA has garnered over 1,500 signatures, and it will be widely promoted at the upcoming Salish Sea conference.
Additionally, some of the film's most effective work has been behind the scenes with key stakeholders - it has been viewed by Sectretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and both Washington senators before their meeting between President Obama & Prime Minister Trudeau. The Washington Congressional Delegation has been working to keep the PSSA proposal for the Salish Sea on the agenda between the US & Canada.
Equally important, according to Friends of the San Juans Executive Director Stephanie Buffum, the participation of well-respected First Nations and tribal voices in the film has built credibility for the project in "Indian country", which is critical to the success of the Salish Sea effort. The BC Assembly of First Nations passed a resolution unanimously in support of the measure, a major success for the project. After this success in Canada, Stephanie presented the PSSA proposal to American counterparts at the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, at the lower Elwha Heritage Center - an apt location for the PSSA proposal, as the gateway to the Straits and site of the successful dam removal on the Elwha River. There is still a lot of work to be done in explaining what a PSSA entails. There is an inaccurate perception among some stakeholders that it is a marine sanctuary, which could restrict fishing. This is not the case; a PSSA designation regulates large shipping vessels only, under the International Maritime Association.
What's next? Stephanie writes, "We're working to get signatures on a joint letter of support for PSSA nomination from Canadian First Nations Grand Chief Perry Bellegarde, United States American Indian Congress President Brian Cladoosby, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and American President Barak Obama." Meanwhile, the film continues to circulate at numerous regional venues, most recently at a youth gathering at the Lummi Nation. Filmmaker Jessica Plumb plans to complete a revised cut of the film, with small changes & updates, to submit to regional film festivals in the Salish Sea region this summer and fall to help keep the story on the radar screen. Currently, team members from the Safe Passage in the Salish Sea project are en route to Canada for the cross-border Salish Sea conference, an important opportunity for the project. The conference, held every other year, brings scientists and activists together from both sides of the US / Canadian border.
Learn more about Jessica and her project HERE - and watch her film below:
Action Grantee Jessica Plumb released her film Safe Passage in the Salish Sea in March and the results of it's impact are already strong. Since the film went live there's been real progress on both distribution goals defined by the project:
On the public front, the film was tied to a petition to designate the Salish Sea as a "Particularly Sensitive Sea Area" (PSSA) and promoted heavily through social media. "PSSA" is a new term for most people, and the film was designed to offer context for this proposal. To date, the petition to designate the Salish Sea as a PSSA has garnered over 1,500 signatures, and it will be widely promoted at the upcoming Salish Sea conference.
Additionally, some of the film's most effective work has been behind the scenes with key stakeholders - it has been viewed by Sectretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and both Washington senators before their meeting between President Obama & Prime Minister Trudeau. The Washington Congressional Delegation has been working to keep the PSSA proposal for the Salish Sea on the agenda between the US & Canada.
Equally important, according to Friends of the San Juans Executive Director Stephanie Buffum, the participation of well-respected First Nations and tribal voices in the film has built credibility for the project in "Indian country", which is critical to the success of the Salish Sea effort. The BC Assembly of First Nations passed a resolution unanimously in support of the measure, a major success for the project. After this success in Canada, Stephanie presented the PSSA proposal to American counterparts at the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, at the lower Elwha Heritage Center - an apt location for the PSSA proposal, as the gateway to the Straits and site of the successful dam removal on the Elwha River. There is still a lot of work to be done in explaining what a PSSA entails. There is an inaccurate perception among some stakeholders that it is a marine sanctuary, which could restrict fishing. This is not the case; a PSSA designation regulates large shipping vessels only, under the International Maritime Association.
What's next? Stephanie writes, "We're working to get signatures on a joint letter of support for PSSA nomination from Canadian First Nations Grand Chief Perry Bellegarde, United States American Indian Congress President Brian Cladoosby, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and American President Barak Obama." Meanwhile, the film continues to circulate at numerous regional venues, most recently at a youth gathering at the Lummi Nation. Filmmaker Jessica Plumb plans to complete a revised cut of the film, with small changes & updates, to submit to regional film festivals in the Salish Sea region this summer and fall to help keep the story on the radar screen. Currently, team members from the Safe Passage in the Salish Sea project are en route to Canada for the cross-border Salish Sea conference, an important opportunity for the project. The conference, held every other year, brings scientists and activists together from both sides of the US / Canadian border.
Learn more about Jessica and her project HERE - and watch her film below: