MAI Project

Intergenerational Workshops

The Salmon Journey Project educates participants about the Yuba River
ecosystem, emphasizing the interdependence between nature and humans by
highlighting cross-cultural connections and honoring the indigenous heritage.

Through visual elements, music, and playful expressions, the workshop
transforms learning into an interactive exploration. Join us for an exciting
journey that spans storytelling and communication across generations,
through an enriching and enjoyable experience.

The following comprehensive overview details the content and structure of the MAI Project Intergenerational Workshops. This initiative, supported by the Upstate California Creative Corps Grant program in collaboration with the Nevada City Arts Council, seeks to provide a transformative learning experience for participants of all ages. Through a carefully curated curriculum, the workshops touch upon diverse themes ranging from the life cycle of salmon to the interdependence of ecosystems, the rich history of native people in the region, and the contemporary challenges and restoration efforts concerning the Yuba River and its surroundings.

WHAT do participants (adults, young adults, and children) learn?

Participants learn about:

  • The Salmon, its cycle, journey, and relationships with the ecosystem.
  • The Yuba River as an ecosystem for animals, plants, and humans.
  • Interdependence.
  • The native people who lived here before colonization and the gold rush era.
  • Nature and the land we live in.
  • Programs for restoring the land and how collective awareness can enhance well-being.
  • A worldview that honors all life and expressions.
  • A world based on love and non-harm.

Participants engage in interactive and experiential activities such as:

  • Critical Thinking: Asking questions and active listening.
  • Movement, singing, play, gestures, drawing, painting, and making collages.
  • Experiencing interdependence through sensory and mindfulness activities.
  • Teamwork to learn about cooperation and the importance of community.
  • What is a river?
  • What is needed for a river to exist?
  • Components of a river and its location.
  • Significance of the Yuba River.
  • Origin and flow of rivers.
  • Importance of caring for rivers and how to do it.
  • Free and healthy rivers and their necessity.
  • Understanding ecosystems, their functions, and components.
  • Factors making ecosystems unique.
  • The energy source for ecosystems.
  • Resilience factors and the role of biodiversity.
  • The significance of salmon in ecosystem health.
  • Consequences of species loss in the ecosystem.
  • Defining community.
  • Contexts of belonging.
  • Contributions to human and natural communities.
  • Valuing others and oneself.
  • Identifying native people.
  • Understanding their history and lifestyles.
  • Effects of colonization and the gold rush.
  • Relationship between native people and the land.
  • Benefits of traditional actions on the land.
  • Evolution of the land.
  • Impact of dams.
  • Significance of honoring and interacting with nature.
  • Changes in animal populations.
  • Organizations protecting land and water.
  • Illustrations accompanying the Salmon Song.
  • Images of the river and the ecosystem.
  • Map comparing historical salmon habitats with current conditions.
  • Photos of native people, their land, and restoration programs.
  • Visuals showcasing restoration initiatives.
  • Introduction of the Salmon Journey as inspiration.
  • Salmon as a symbol of resilience, endurance, and adaptation.
  • Exploration of questions raised by the salmon journey.
  • Increased awareness of broader community and diversity.
  • Empathy development through understanding native ways.
  • Movement and games to experience ecosystem elements.
  • Teamwork to generate questions and reflections.
  • Expression through drawing, painting, and collage.

These workshops aim to foster empathy, environmental awareness, and a sense of community, contributing positively to the well-being of participants and the broader community.

~ Click images to enlarge ~
© 2025, Monica Farbiarz