Submissions Open: Voices of the River Vol. 5

Calling Indigenous Creators and Researchers!

Voices of the River is celebrating its 5th annual journal in this special edition, Sacred Waters. Confluence is teaming up with researchers at Oregon State University to produce this issue. David G. Lewis (Grand Ronde) assistant professor of Anthropology and Indigenous Studies is co-editing the volume with the Institute for Water and Watersheds. Our theme of Sacred Waters refers to the meaning of water and water features like hot springs, rapids, riffles and waterfalls to Indigenous peoples throughout the region. These are significant water features tribes call sacred places and historically have been contentious as ownership rights have been taken by settlers and state institutions. The traditional meaning of water features as places of great beauty, of spiritual health, of cultural practices like salmon and lamprey fishing, is indisputable.

We seek indigenous perspectives, research, art, poetry, oral history analyses, and fiction that emphasize the traditional meaning of these amazing Sacred places within our water systems.

For our Researchers, we are looking for:

Research* about our PNW water system, with special emphasis on our Columbia River and watersheds.

For our creatives, we are looking for:

Art (with emphasis on water!), Flash Fiction, Non-Fiction Essays, Poetry, etc.

*While we appreciate researchers who conduct research with Indigenous peoples in mind, we are specifically looking for Indigenous/Tribal authored research. We have some exceptions, such as co-authorship, so please reach out to us.

Research Deadline:

Please have your completed research paper in by June 1, 2026 @ 11:50 PM PST

Word count: 2,000-3,000 words maximum

Full citations list (Chicago)

Art/Literature Deadline:

Please have your submissions in to us by June 1, 2026 @11:50 PM PST

Email submissions to info@confluenceproject.org

 If chosen, your work will be published and compensated!