by Tish McFadden

Illustrations by Laura Winslow

Cultural • Environmental • Bilingual • Educational

Upriver to Morning follows Salmon’s journey from the Pacific Ocean to Boundary Springs, through riverine woodlands, interior valleys, alpine gorges, and, ultimately, to Rogue River’s birthplace near Crater Lake, Oregon. This story is rooted in universal life lessons that deepen our capacity for compassion, our sense of belonging, and our connection to nature.

Animal and Earth Element characters possess identifiable personalities that we care about, laugh about, fear, and admire. Seamlessly woven throughout Salmon’s adventures, we uncover enduring wisdom for all ages that values the power of kindness, the importance of music and laughter, and the interconnectedness of all things.

Upriver to Morning - About

Upriver to Morning is a journey-to-wisdom story set in the Rogue River watershed of southwest Oregon.

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Upriver to Morning - The Story

From seaside beaches to riverine woodlands, interior valleys, the Table Rocks, river gorges, and ultimately to alpine springs, the story is rooted in universal life lessons that can deepen our capacity for compassion and sense of belonging.

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Upriver to Morning - Resources

Upriver to Morning is an illustrated book and education program in English and Spanish that aligns with Common Core curriculum standards across the grade levels. Its components include: a story theater script, audiobook, songs, films, and activity guides for teachers, integrating art, science, movement, writing, reading, acting, and music.

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Upriver to Morning - Presentations

Tish McFadden is available for community presentations in classrooms, libraries, museums, and other public venues. Programs include excerpts and songs from Upriver to Morning.

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Upriver to Morning - Testimonials

“This is Grandma Agnes Pilgrim, the International Grandma. I’m your Grandma. Someday I pray that you will hear my voice and that you will grow up and be grey-headed like me. When you read this book, you will become an instant teacher. And you will tell people, young and old, to ripple it out so it will spread around, because this is true stuff. These are the true teachings. And so, with all the love in my heart, I pray that you can do just that. Ripple it out.” – Grants Pass, OR – February 20, 2017.

Read what others say about Upriver to Morning.

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John Letz interviews Tish McFadden

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John Letz interviews Tish McFadden, author of Upriver To Morning, to share updates on the project’s status and development, in North Mountain Park, Ashland, Oregon. Tish talks of her friendship with Agnes Baker Pilgrim and how the story, itself, has become a metaphor for its creation. This episode is an update of the Upriver to Morning project as of May, 2022. (29:01)

Tish and Aggie

Grandma Aggie’s 94th Birthday Celebration

Tish McFadden celebrates with Agnes Pilgrim at her 94th birthday celebration in Ashland, Oregon on September 11, 2018. Such a joyous occasion honoring her life, her service, her family, her stories, and her culture.

A Conversation with Agnes Baker Pilgrim and Tish McFadden

Tish and Aggie Interview - Salmon Ceremony

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Several folks from the Upriver to Morning team, along with a crew from Pilot Rock Productions, met with Takelma elder Agnes Baker Pilgrim and Tish McFadden at the Rogue River Preserve near Eagle Point, Oregon in June, 2019. Agnes talks about restoring the Salmon Ceremony along the Rogue River in 1993, giving thanks to water, and how she became a Voice for the Voiceless. Also, the importance of music, laughter, love, and acts of reciprocity; giving back by caring for each other and our natural world. (15:31)

In this film, Agnes says this about Upriver to Morning: “It’s so important, Tish! Everybody should read your book – young as well as the Elders. So I hope that whoever hears this now can ripple it out to your neighbors, to your kids, to whomever, and to spread it around! Thank you, Tish. It’s a good day!”