In early November, the Nez Perce Tribe brought together more than a dozen Tribes, an array of non-profit partners, elected decision-makers, and advocates in Tulalip, WA to discuss the preservation and protection of salmon, water, and orca. This two-day event created a stronger sense of community through ceremony and healing. ICL employees were honored to have the opportunity to hear directly from Tribes across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California about the work needed to right historical wrongs, honor commitments to Tribes, and build a more resilient future.
The first day of the conference was dedicated to Tribal protocols and testimonies, featuring a rich tapestry of songs, dances, and discussions facilitated by various Tribal Nations. Among the leading contributors were the Shoshone Paiute Tribes, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Lummi Nation, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Suquamish Tribe, Spokane Tribe of Indians, and more. Throughout these ceremonial sessions, attendees were encouraged to participate by opening their hearts and spirits and immersing themselves in the drumbeat of the Columbia Basin Tribes – 7 Drum performance.
The act of sharing songs, food, and cultural practices with a diverse audience of tribal and non-tribal members exemplified a compelling display of unity, warmth, and hospitality. Each Tribe seized the opportunity to narrate their unique stories and voice their frustrations, often rooted in the historical traumas of colonization, genocide, and assimilation. Present-day concerns spanned from local watersheds to the advocacy for comprehensive basin-wide solutions, yet a resounding theme of honoring treaty obligations and placing trust in Tribal-led solutions echoed consistently throughout the day.
“Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are in the middle of a historic movement that has already elevated the rights of Indigenous Tribes, the rights of nature, and even human rights.. That Iron Gate (dam) is going to fall in December of 2024 and the salmon are going to come home and they will go back to their home waters and spawn in places where they haven’t been able to go in 170 years. And if we can do it on the Klamath, just like they did it on the Elwha, we can do it on the Snake.” –Amy Cordallis, Yurok Tribal member and attorney, and Executive Director of Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation
Not if, but when
The underlying tone of all discussions regarding lower Snake River dam removal was one of urgency. Fishermen, scientists, and non-profit leaders all shared that these dams must be removed soon if we’re going to have a real chance at recovering salmon, steelhead, and orca. Despite decades of efforts to sustain these populations, salmon face a dire situation. Currently, 13 Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead populations are listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act, with none showing signs of recovery. Southern Resident Orcas, heavily reliant on Columbia and Snake River salmon for survival, are also in critical need of help, with a mere 75 orcas remaining in the pods that frequent Puget Sound. Tribal fishermen recounted firsthand experiences of witnessing the alarming path to extinction during their lifetimes. The depletion of salmon populations has not only resulted in an environmental crisis but has also caused the erosion of vital cultural traditions for Tribal nations across the Northwest.
“We don’t have time.. We are looking at the extermination and extinction of our salmon.” – JoDe Goudy, Vice President of Se’Si’Le and former Chairman of the Yakama Nation
Despite the urgent tone, calls for dam removal are calm and measured, offering the US government assistance in replacing the services currently provided by the dams. Expressing patience to ensure those who currently benefit from the services of the dams are not overly inconvenienced while witnessing the decline of a keystone species, a centerpiece of culture, a species that many consider a relative, is an unbearable toll many of us will never fully comprehend. Panels of industry experts shared insights on not only how to replace the transportation, energy, and irrigation services but also how to do it in a timely manner that will give salmon, steelhead, and lamprey a chance to recover in a free-flowing river.
“We come to you (elected offices) with facts and information, place that on your desk so you can make an informed decision and formulate your own opinion on what you think should be done and how it should be done.. That’s what we always advocate for is bringing the truth forward and we’ll continue to do that throughout these efforts until the lower Snake River dams are breached and salmon is recovered in the Pacific Northwest..” Chairman Shannon Wheeler of the Nez Perce Tribe
Elected officials certainly took note of the event. Washington’s Governor Jay Inlsee and Senator Patty Murray both sent in recorded videos thanking the Tribes for their leadership. Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID) was unable to attend but was thanked diligently for his efforts on this issue. Washington State’s Attorney General and current candidate for Governor, Bob Ferguson, attended and spoke about his experience prosecuting environmental polluters in Washington. It’s clear these elected officials are paying close attention and taking more accountability for this issue.
“The greatest ally of extinction is inaction.. There’s that famous quote that the American Government will get to the right conclusion after exhausting every other option. Well, we’ve exhausted every other option at this point. The only option left is breaching the dams.”- Collin O’Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation
The bigger picture
Oppression, justice, healing, and unity were the throughlines that connected conversations of lower Snake River dam removal and salmon and orca recovery. In a Western, white-dominant world, we do not typically pause long enough to acknowledge the deep-rooted pain that accompanies witnessing extinction or experiencing the impacts of climate change on a daily basis. This conference provided the opportunity to scratch the surface of the generational harm caused by colonization and genocide. Some of the impacts of these atrocities are clear—when you see there’s not enough salmon for each community member to get a single fish for themselves or when salmon are rationed at cultural events. However, the loss of salmon is just one piece of the puzzle that’s been used to control and assimilate native communities. Panelists spoke from their hearts of personal traumas they’ve encountered, from loss of loved ones, erasure of native languages, assault, mental health illness, physical health, and how it’s all connected to their culture, their Tribe, and their sense of community.
“We have already come so far. We have already begun that process of healing from colonization, healing from genocide, healing from assimilation… And moving forward into the next era of healing we restore the balance between the natural world and the people. And that absolutely has to be led by the Indigenous peoples.” – Amy Cordallis
“…It goes hand in hand with colonialism. What was colonized less than 150 years ago was the land, the river, the sea, the Indigenous people and our values. So what needs to change today in order for us to have a future tomorrow is to revert back to those value systems—acknowledge that Indigenous people are here, that we’re healing, acknowledge Indigenous values. Really if we want to see a better tomorrow we have to reindiginize everything around us and every part of us as individuals.” – Free Borsey, Children of the Setting Sun Productions Institute Research Assistant / Project Coordinator
Perhaps one of the most moving moments of the RUN in Unity Convening came during the Tribal Women’s Panel. The panel, facilitated by Kayeloni Scott of the Nez Perce Tribe and American Rivers, simply asked these leaders to talk about their experiences as Tribal women in their respective fields. The vulnerability with which they spoke of their hardships brought the room to tears and created a powerful movement of solidarity among leaders from many Tribal Nations. These experts spoke of the importance of self-care, empowering young leaders by simply believing in them, and paving a path to abundance through healing and curiosity.
“It was our culture that was the most important thing to my healing. If we don’t have our connection to place, if we don’t get to be where we’re from and exercise who we are as native people it impacts our well-being.. Who would we be if we were never removed from the river.. What would we look like if we were still there? That connection to culture and our natural resources is not just about place, it’s about our whole well-being, our mental health, spiritual health, physical health.” – Alyssa Macy, Citizen of Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the CEO of Washington Conservation Action
Hope for the future
Two days of discussion of looming extinction, climate emergency, lack of political leadership, and centuries of hardships is heavy. Hearing, witnessing, and attempting to understand the pain that Tribal Nations have and continue to face is challenging to wrap your mind and your heart around. However, the resilience of salmon is reflected in the resilience of the Tribes. Despite the challenging outlook, there was a deep sense of hope and belief that a day where the lower Snake River runs free again is near. Indigenous communities are already at the forefront of our climate and ecological issues. Our commitments and treaty obligations with all Tribal Nations must be honored. Tribes must have a seat at the table and be empowered to lead all of us to a more abundant and resilient future.
“The work ahead of us is enormous, but it’s not impossible, but we have to maintain hope, we have to work together, we have to rise above all that’s happening and we have to find that place where there is eternal light shining on our future.” – Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians.
In particular, the youth panel, which highlighted leaders from across the Northwest, brought a fresh sense of comfort and hope that there will be people fighting for a solution for as long as it takes. These leaders are bright, willing to take advice from elders, but not afraid to chart their own path to success.
“Not only are we the leaders of tomorrow, we are also the leaders of today. We have something to say. We have the time, we have work to put in to make sure these dams come down as soon as possible.” – Lilly Wilson, Youth Salmon Protectors
“Maybe the question isn’t why did you get into climate change (work)—as a young person growing up in this world that’s been defined by climate change ever since I was born—but rather, why other people haven’t gotten into the issue…We shouldn’t be settling at a choice between emission reductions and salmon survival. We should have both of them, we just need to figure out how.” – Maanit Goel, Washington Youth Ocean and River and Conservation Alliance
You can view the entire Run in Unity Convening on the Salmon Orca Project’s Youtube page. Catch the Nez Perce Tribe’s documentary, Covenant of the Salmon People, for free on PBS. Looking for ways to get involved? Send your member of congress an email today urging them to support Lower Snake River dam removal.