Elise Cope

Gathering of the Eagles Canoe Journey

May 4, 2023

Friends is honored to collect donations for this extraordinary inter-island tribal canoe journey, “Esqaplh etse Kwelengsen, Gathering of Eagles.” All are welcome at this grassroots journey following the ancestral highways of the Lhaq’temish, Lummi, people, beginning May 21 and running through May 26 in the Lhaq’temish homelands of Lopez, San Juan, Orcas and Lummi Islands. ... read more

Earth Day Message from Jay Julius, W’tot lhem

April 20, 2023

The following message is shared by Jay Julius, W’tot lhem. Jay is the former Chairman of the Lummi Nation, a full-time fisherman and father, and the Founder and President of Se’Si’Le.   The organization Se’Si’Le offers workshops, symposiums, forums, and direct-action campaigns that “bring people and organizations into a deeper and truer understanding of Indigenous ... read more

Welcoming three new board members!

February 24, 2023

Erin Licata, Fidalgo Island — Erin is a tribal community member of the Samish Indian Nation and serves as the Madrona Institute’s Co-Director of the Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps. Erin also brings a background in science research to the board. Jan Knudson, Blaine — Jan decided she wanted to join the Friends board after touring ... read more

Brown Island Restoration Update

December 14, 2022

We soaked up some fall sunshine during a follow-up visit to our restoration site on Brown Island near Friday Harbor. Huge thanks to participating private landowners, the Islands Conservation Corps (ICC) and Northwest Straits Foundation for their support of this work! Friends and the ICC removed unnatural rock that had surfaced since our initial 2015 armor removal and beach ... read more

This November, Amplify Indigenous Voices

November 17, 2022

It’s Native American Heritage Month, and here at Friends, we’re reflecting amongst ourselves and with our partners, exploring what it means to be good allies to Tribal Nations. Our work takes place on the homelands of the Lummi, Saanich, Klallam and Samish who have a deep history rooted here in their traditional fishing grounds—though many ... read more

End in sight for the Comp Plan Update!

November 17, 2022

In October 2022, we provided background on the Comprehensive Plan and the ongoing County Update process. You can still access that information here. This month, we’re providing an overview of the progress of the Comprehensive Plan update for San Juan County and sharing what we might expect in 2023. Attending public hearing in person is the ... read more

Course Correction Needed for Rapidly Changing Shorelines

November 17, 2022

The shorelines of the San Juan Islands are dynamic places where land and sea meet in a collision of geology, water, and natural forces. When left unchanged by humans, shorelines and the wide range of life they support are amazingly resilient. But what happens when we modify our shorelines to accommodate our desires to build ... read more

Known Pacific Sand Lance Spawning Sites in San Juan County More Than Doubled

October 20, 2022

Friends of the San Juans recently completed a multi-year research project for a particular species of forage fish: the Pacific sand lance. Forage fish are an essential player in the Salish Sea marine food web as prey for salmon, rockfish, seabirds, and other marine mammals. Sand lance are especially important in the diet of juvenile ... read more

Prepare to be inspired October 1st!

September 5, 2022

Join Friends for a special afternoon with Amy Gulick Amy is a widely acclaimed writer and photographer, whose award-winning books include The Salmon Way: An Alaska State of Mind, and Salmon in the Trees: Life in Alaska’s Tongass Rain Forest. Through her storytelling, engaging experiences, and stunning images, Amy will be asking us to think ... read more

Current Volunteer Opps

July 15, 2022

We have a number of opportunities and events that you can get involved with this summer! Contact Elise Cope, Communications and Outreach Director, for more information: [email protected] Event Volunteers, August 6thShaw Island, 12 pm to 4 pm Help us greet, shuttle, and assist guests at our Meet + Mingle event on Shaw Island — a ... read more

I want the beach to be able to be here for my grandchildren… for my nieces, nephews, and godchildren. That’s when we made the decision to contact Friends of the San Juans.

Mariluz Villa

member, Brown Island