Salju was a human female who owned and operated Black Spire Station. This establishment was a filling station and repair shop situated within Black Spire Outpost on the world of Batuu. Her shop provided services for a variety of vehicles, from landspeeders and swoop bikes to smaller vessels. Known for being cheerful, friendly, and optimistic, Salju was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need of parts or assistance.
During her mission to establish a base on Batuu, the Resistance agent Vi Moradi became friends with Salju. Salju was instrumental in helping the spy adjust to the local customs and culture of Batuu.
Born in 9 ABY, Salju was a Batuuan human female who resided with her father, Harta, in Black Spire Outpost. This outpost was the largest settlement on the Outer Rim planet of Batuu. Harta, often away on work trips, would bring back gifts for his daughter. One such gift was a young therii, which Salju named Elee. Salju sought advice from Bina, who ran the local Creature Stall, on how to properly feed and groom Elee's tusks. The pair became inseparable, even sharing a bedroom, although Salju ensured Elee had her own sleeping space. Their playtime often involved imaginative scenarios, like pretending to be a [pilot](/article/pilot], which often resulted in messes that Salju would diligently clean. Salju shared her aspirations with Elee, including her passion for garage work and her dream of one day owning a speeder. Lunacca, the Wookiee proprietor of The Wooden Wookiee, gifted Salju and Elee a wooden carving of Elee as a token of their friendship.
As Elee matured, Salju began taking her to the remote Surabat River Valley for recreation. There, they encountered other therii who welcomed them into their community. Eventually, Elee grew too large, causing an incident with an oil drum, prompting Salju to allow Elee to live permanently with her fellow therii in the River Valley. Even as an adult, Salju made it a tradition to visit Elee each year on the anniversary of their first meeting.
In 34 ABY, Vi Moradi, a Resistance spy, and Archex, formerly Captain Cardinal of the First Order, embarked on a mission to establish a Resistance presence on Batuu. Their ship, accompanied by their droid Pook, crashed in a forest near Black Spire Outpost, rendering the two humans unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, they discovered that most of their possessions, including a significant portion of Pook, had been stolen. It was then that Salju appeared, offering her assistance in recovering their stolen items and helping them navigate life on Batuu.
While Archex and Pook remained with their damaged ship, Salju guided Vi through Black Spire Outpost. She introduced Moradi to many of the local residents and customs, fostering a friendship between the two. Among those introduced were Mubo, a droid vendor and repairman; Arta Kleidun, a clothing merchant; and Savi, a scrapper who was a friend of Lor San Tekka and a supporter of the Jedi Order.
Impressed by Salju's selfless dedication to helping her and Archex settle on Batuu, Moradi quickly recognized Salju's potential value to the Resistance. Salju expressed her desire to explore the stars and witness the diverse animal life on various planets throughout the galaxy. Moradi extended an invitation for Salju to join the Resistance, highlighting her skills with people and technology, as well as her inherent altruism. However, Salju declined, reaffirming her commitment to Batuu as her home.
Salju readily extended assistance to travelers, as demonstrated by her help to Vi Moradi and Archex after their crash on Batuu. She was regarded as trustworthy by her fellow residents of Black Spire Outpost, including Mubo and Arta Kleidun. Despite her yearning to explore the galaxy, Salju remained deeply attached to Batuu and Black Spire Outpost, considering them her true home.
The name "Salju" was initially revealed during the "Galactic Nights" event on December 16, 2017. It appeared on the map side of several Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge trading cards designed to promote the attraction, specifically the map card for Black Spire Station. These map cards featured locations on the planet Batuu and included a line from the Old Batuuan ballad written in Aurebesh along the card's border. In the case of Black Spire Station, the phrase was "THOSE BROKEN AND TOSSED."