A new book and multimedia campaign
PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID MOSKOWITZ
WRITER EILEEN DELEHANTY PEARKES
NATIONAL BOOK RELEASE / PARTNER SUPPORT MEDIA / COMMUNITY EXHIBITS / EVENTS
“A thought-provoking and visually stunning portrait of an embattled paradise.”
Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin is a stunning new book and visual storytelling campaign exploring the beautiful and complicated Columbia River system and its expansive watershed, from sea to source.
The project will illuminate the beauty of this river geologically, ecologically, and culturally—as well as the current challenges and the people and communities working on sustainable solutions. The future of this river is uncertain, with powerful and complex environmental and cultural forces in play. As such, Indigenous Tribes across the watershed have called for new management strategies, including the removal of key dams that have decimated the salmon runs their cultures are built around.
Photography by award-winning photographer David Moskowitz, supported by narrative essays by author Eileen Delehanty Pearkes, a poem by Claudia Castro Luna, and contributions from members of the various communities and cultures whose lives are touched by this river, will create a powerful inspirational and educational resource to support the ongoing efforts of conservation organizations to push for sound management of the river moving forward.
More than ever, the future of the Columbia River Watershed depends on how well people are able to work together, overcome differences, and collaborate to find solutions that meet everyone’s needs—and prioritize those whose needs have long been unmet or disregarded.
The Columbia River Treaty: Supporting a new era of collaboration
In 2024, the flood control provisions in the international Columbia River Treaty will expire. This significant change has prompted reconsideration of the 1964 agreement, formed and executed in a very different era from today. Current negotiations between the U.S. and Canada provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape the way governments and Tribes in both countries store and manage the Columbia River. By raising awareness of the importance of preserving the Columbia River through this book, media campaign, and collaborations we hope to inspire action to protect and preserve the Columbia River for future generations, ensuring sustainability for the communities and the environment at large.
“Part coffee table book, part scientific study, part historical treatise, Big River examines the Columbia through a number of different lenses: wildlife biologist David Moskowitz’s striking photography takes readers on a visual travelogue;
Eileen Delehanty Pearkes’ text spans time, from the prehistoric origins of the Columbia Basin to the present-day challenges the region faces; and interviews with individuals who live and work in the Basin add a personal touch to the narrative”
Publisher: Braided River
Braided River is the conservation imprint of Mountaineers Books, an independent nonprofit publisher based in Seattle. Through photography books that lead to multimedia presentations and exhibitions, Braided River works to protect western North America's remaining public lands. If you are an individual or foundation interested in helping bring this new project to life, please email erikal@mountaineersbooks.org or visit www.braidedriver.org to learn more.
“A beautiful and definitive work... [Big River] celebrates the river, offering a photographic feast for the eyes, capsule biographies of river folk, plus serious discussion of restoring natural features of the river system.””
“An impressive and large format compendium of full color, captioned photographs showcasing the beauty and importance of the Columbia Basin country. Ideal for browsing through by the armchair traveler, important for its emphasis on the need for environmental protections and restorations”
