Elevating Awareness of Native Salmon Culture and Policy

Traditional fishing techniques among Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest were both intricate and highly effective, reflecting a deep understanding of local ecosystems and a close relationship with the land and waterways. These methods, including suspended basket traps, fish nets, spears, and more formed a complex system that sustained native communities for generations.

Historical accounts from visits to Kettle Falls describe the large quantities of salmon caught using basket traps. Hung from poles across the falls, these baskets were made of woven hazel or birch osiers, caught salmon as they leaped up the falls. Approximately 10 feet in length, 3 feet wide, and 4 feet deep, is suspended at a waterfall where the rushing water cascades over a rock. As the salmon attempt to swim and jump upstream, they leap into the basket, some jumping as high as 10 to 12 feet. Accounts tell stories of Natives catching 250 to 300 salmon from one basket two or three times a day.

There were seven main types of fish nets used by the Spokane Tribe, each suited to different fishing conditions and targeted fish species. The choice of net depended on factors like the type of fish being sought, the layout of the riverbed and banks, water flow, depth, and sometimes ownership of the nets. The nets were positioned one above the other, with the targeted fish caught in the space between them. Most nets were crafted from Indian hemp twisted into cordage and wound onto straight spindles. Nets were made with small, uniform meshes of about 1/3 inch in diameter, typically 1½ to 3 feet deep, with a rounder shape at the bottom and a hoop of willow or serviceberry wood, not cedar, affixed to the top for stability. 

The Spokane tribe employed three primary types of fishing spears, each tailored to specific fishing conditions and targeted fish species. The first type, known as a leister, was a trident or three-pronged spear attached to a long handle, typically 3 to 7 meters in length. Made from a composite of deer horn or bone. A second type of spear was a two-pronged implement, with fire-hardened maple wood shafts and detachable wooden or bone heads wrapped in Indian hemp and waterproofed with conifer pitch. This spear was secured to the fisherman's ankle with a twisted hemp line, serving as a lanyard. The third type of spear was a harpoon, used mainly in spring to catch sockeye and spring salmon. This single-pronged spear had a detachable head that remained embedded in the fish upon impact. Skillfully used, the harpoon required patience and precision, as the fisherman waited for the opportune moment.

Fishing for Native Americans embodies a way of life—a reverence for the land, water, and traditional wisdom. Each catch is celebrated as a gift from the earth, fostering community and strengthening ties to the environment.

Ross, John. The Spokan Indians. Spokane, WA: Michael J. Ross, 2011.