Broken Promises, Sacred Fish: The Columbia Plateau Tribes’ Enduring Fight for Salmon Treaty Rights
The Columbia River, a magnificent artery carving its way through the Pacific Northwest, is more than just a waterway; it is a life source, a cultural touchstone, and the enduring stage for a profound struggle. For the sovereign nations of the Columbia Plateau – the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs – the fight for salmon treaty rights is not merely a legal battle; it is a fight for identity, for survival, and for the very soul of their people. This enduring advocacy, rooted in treaties signed over 160 years ago, represents a demand for justice, ecological restoration, and the fulfillment of solemn promises.
At the heart of this struggle lies the irreplaceable salmon. For millennia, Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, and Steelhead salmon have been the lifeblood of the Columbia Plateau tribes. They provided sustenance, drove cultural practices, shaped spiritual beliefs, and fostered intricate trade networks. The annual return of the salmon was a ceremony, a testament to the natural order, and a symbol of abundance. This profound relationship was formally acknowledged in the Treaties of 1855, wherein tribes ceded vast tracts of land to the U.S. government but explicitly reserved their inherent rights, including the "exclusive right of taking fish in all the streams running through or bordering said reservation… and at all usual and accustomed places." These were not privileges granted by the government, but pre-existing rights that the tribes retained.
The ink on those treaties was barely dry before the promises began to fray. The relentless march of "progress" in the 20th century brought an unprecedented assault on the Columbia River ecosystem: dam construction. Beginning with Bonneville Dam in the 1930s, followed by McNary, The Dalles, John Day, and crucially, the four Lower Snake River dams – Ice Harbor, Little Goose, Lower Monumental, and Lower Granite – the river was transformed into a series of slackwater reservoirs. These gargantuan concrete structures, built primarily for hydropower, irrigation, and navigation, proved catastrophic for salmon. They blocked migration routes, flooded critical spawning grounds, raised water temperatures, and created a gauntlet of turbine blades and fluctuating water levels that decimated fish populations. Grand Coulee Dam, for instance, built without fish ladders, permanently cut off over 1,000 miles of prime salmon habitat, extinguishing entire upriver runs.
"Our ancestors made a clear deal," states a representative from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. "They gave up millions of acres, and in return, they were guaranteed their right to fish. That right was trampled by dams, by disregard for our traditional ecological knowledge, and by a federal government that chose power and profit over promises."
The tribal nations, however, never abandoned their fight. Their advocacy has been relentless, evolving from direct action and protests in the mid-20th century to sophisticated legal and scientific campaigns today. The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), established in 1977, serves as a powerful, unified voice for the Yakama, Umatilla, Nez Perce, and Warm Springs tribes. CRITFC’s mission is clear: "to restore salmon, steelhead, and other anadromous fish to the Columbia River Basin." They employ biologists, policy experts, and legal counsel, combining traditional ecological knowledge with cutting-edge science to make their case.
A pivotal moment arrived with the landmark U.S. v. Oregon legal proceedings, which began in 1969 and continue to this day. This case, alongside the U.S. v. Washington (Boldt Decision) for Puget Sound tribes, affirmed the tribes’ status not merely as stakeholders, but as co-managers of the fish resource, entitled to half of the harvestable catch. These decisions were monumental, legally validating the tribes’ inherent treaty rights and forcing federal and state governments to engage with tribal sovereignty. Yet, even with these legal victories, the physical and ecological devastation wrought by the dams persisted, limiting the actual fish available to harvest.
Today, the core of the advocacy centers on the restoration of healthy, abundant salmon runs. This demands multifaceted solutions, but one issue stands above all others: the four Lower Snake River dams. Tribal leaders and environmental groups argue that breaching these dams is the single most impactful action that could be taken to recover threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead populations, particularly those critical to the Nez Perce Tribe. These dams are increasingly seen as economically obsolete, with their hydropower generation able to be replaced by renewable energy sources, and their navigation benefits diminishing.
"Removing the Lower Snake River dams isn’t just about salmon; it’s about justice," asserts Shannon Wheeler, Chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe. "It’s about fulfilling promises, righting historical wrongs, and acknowledging that our cultural survival is inextricably linked to the survival of the salmon." The scientific consensus largely supports this view, with numerous studies indicating that dam breaching offers the best chance for significant salmon recovery.
Beyond dam removal, tribal advocates push for comprehensive habitat restoration across the entire Columbia Basin. This includes restoring riparian zones, improving water quality by reducing agricultural runoff and industrial pollution, and reconnecting tributary streams blocked by culverts and other infrastructure. They also advocate for reforms in hatchery practices, emphasizing the need to support wild salmon populations and minimize the genetic impacts of hatchery-bred fish. The goal is not just more fish, but genetically robust, wild fish capable of thriving in a changing environment.
The cultural significance of salmon cannot be overstated. For these tribes, salmon are not just food; they are relatives, teachers, and sacred beings. The "First Salmon Ceremony," celebrated annually, is a profound expression of gratitude and respect, acknowledging the salmon’s sacrifice and renewing the spiritual connection between people and the natural world. The decline of salmon runs has had a devastating impact on these ceremonies, on the transmission of traditional knowledge, and on the overall health and well-being of tribal communities.
"When the salmon are sick, we are sick," explains a Warm Springs elder. "Our language has words for every part of the salmon, for every aspect of the river. When the salmon disappear, a part of our language, a part of our stories, a part of who we are, disappears too."
The advocacy of the Columbia Plateau tribes is not only for their own benefit. Their fight for salmon recovery is a fight for the health of the entire ecosystem. Salmon are a keystone species, supporting a vast web of life, from bears and eagles to the very forests that line the riverbanks, enriched by marine nutrients carried upstream by spawning fish. Their efforts benefit non-tribal communities as well, improving water quality, supporting recreational fisheries, and promoting a healthier environment for all residents of the Pacific Northwest.
In recent years, the urgency of the situation has intensified. Many salmon runs are at critically low levels, with some facing imminent extinction. Climate change adds another layer of complexity, with warming river temperatures and altered hydrological cycles further stressing fish populations. However, there are glimmers of hope. The Biden administration has shown increased interest in addressing the Lower Snake River dams and exploring comprehensive solutions, and bipartisan discussions are underway, albeit slowly.
The Columbia Plateau Salmon Treaty Rights Advocates stand as a testament to resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to their heritage. Their advocacy is a powerful reminder that treaties are not mere historical documents, but living agreements that demand ongoing respect and fulfillment. The future of the salmon, and with it, the cultural vitality of the Columbia Plateau tribes, hangs in the balance. Their voices, steeped in generations of wisdom and an unbreakable bond with the land and water, demand to be heard – not just for justice, but for the ecological survival of one of the world’s most iconic rivers and its most sacred inhabitants. Their fight is a beacon, illuminating the path toward a future where promises are kept, and where the salmon, once again, swim free and abundant in the great Columbia River.
