Elevating Awareness of Native Salmon Culture and Policy

Salmon, a representation of abundance and ecological richness, played a pivotal role in the cultural and ecological foundation of indigenous communities across North America before European contact. Oral traditions, ethnographic accounts, and historical records provide compelling insights into the magnitude of the salmon runs and their relationship to Native American societies.

Historically, salmon once thrived in unparalleled abundance, sustaining entire Native American populations along the Pacific Coast, ranging from present-day Mexico to Alaska. The Columbia Plateau societies flourished in harmony with the abundance of Coho and Chinook salmon returning to the Columbia River in vast numbers. Their livelihood revolved around these relatives. Native peoples would travel vast distances, journeying from as far as the Great Plains and beyond to congregate at Celilo Falls, situated near present-day The Dalles, Oregon, to partake in fishing and trade. Salmon served as the magnetic force drawing communities together and fostering cultural exchange.

At one point, the Columbia Basin welcomed over sixteen million salmon returning each spring. Within the Spokane River, a primary spawning channel hosted the majestic Chinook, often called the "June Hogs" due to their impressive size—often surpassing 100 pounds in weight. Spokane Tribal elders spoke of a time when the rivers ran thick with salmon during their annual migration, a spectacle so magnificent that it painted the waters red with their sheer abundance. “Our ancestors spoke of a river so abundant with fish that it appeared you could simply walk across their backs to the other side. Picture crystal-clear waters, where, in a mere five minutes, thousands of fish would glide by.” Oral traditions from tribes across the continent recount stories of rivers teeming with salmon, their numbers seemingly endless.

During their exploration of the Columbia and Snake River basins in 1805, Lewis and Clark documented Indigenous peoples catching substantial numbers of salmon, estimated at 10 to 16 million fish by present-day calculations. Six decades later, the inauguration of the first salmon cannery in North America near Astoria indicated the onset of commercial salmon harvesting. 

The decline of salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest can be attributed to factors such as overfishing, habitat destruction, fish hatcheries, water pollution, and large-scale environmental changes. Since the arrival of European settlers, the region has witnessed the disappearance of 9 out of 10 wild salmon runs and 100 distinct salmon stocks. Additionally, three times as many salmon runs are currently at risk of disappearing along with their habitats.

Chock, Kalae. “A River Reborn, the Resurgence of Salmon into the Little Spokane.” NonStop Local KHQ, n.d. https://www.khq.com/community/instagram/a-river-reborn-the-resurgence-of-salmon-into-the-little-spokane/article_51b9e5fc-4e97-11ee-814d-f76e5944a4c5.html. 

Jackson, Chief Johnny. “Celilo Falls.” CRITFC, n.d. https://critfc.org/salmon-culture/tribal-salmon-culture/celilo-falls/. 

“River History.” Spokane Riverkeeper, n.d. https://www.spokaneriverkeeper.org/history-1. 

“Wild Chinook in the Northwest Salmon Through the Ages.” or.gov, n.d. https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3293/SalmonHandouts?bidId=.