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Chapter 1– Our Home: Living by the Salish Sea

The Salish Sea and its Significance

The Salish Sea is home to diverse ecosystems and has been culturally significant to
Indigenous Peoples for millennia . Spanning the Canada/US border, the Salish Sea

stretches from the northern end of the Strait of Georgia to the southern end of
Puget Sound . It opens to the Pacific Ocean at the Strait of Juan de Fuca . Within the
Salish Sea are numerous connecting channels, bays and inlets, such as Haro Strait,
Rosario Strait, Bellingham Bay, and the Hood Canal, as well as islands such as the
San Juan and Gulf Islands . (Figure 1 .1)

Communities around the Salish Sea are deeply rooted to this highly productive inland sea and the
ways of life it nurtures . For those of us living around the Salish Sea, it is important to remember that we
share this area with the native wildlife and plants and to respect that we are located on the unceded
territories of many different Indigenous Peoples .

Strait of Georgia

Salish Sea Juan de Fuca Strait

Puget Sound

Pacific Ocean

Figure 1.1– The Salish Sea (Source: The Pacific Salmon Foundation)

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