Coming Together

Sharing 50 Tribes’ Vision for the Future of Pacific Northwest Salmon

Kieren Daley Laursen

Abstract

Salmon are central to the culture of Indigenous people in the Pacific Northwest. Research indicates that a diet that includes fresh salmon  protects from health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, lower poverty rates, and lower mortality rates for Tribal members (Meyer 1999). In addition to these health benefits, salmon provide economic benefits to Tribal communities, including fishing-related jobs and trading opportunities (UCUT 2015). Pacific Northwest Salmon species are struggling for survival as their populations decline. A lack of salmon can be a detriment to health, the economy, social exchanges, the unity of communities, and traditional knowledge and skills handed down through generations. Deep cultural and spiritual connections with salmon are why many Tribes in the Northwest refer to themselves as “Salmon People.”
This article describes this collaboration, explores the history of salmon recovery in the region, discusses the cultural importance of salmon, examines salmon recovery projects underway in the region, and details how United States-based Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) supports and enhances these projects with its Resolution 2022-25.
During the annual session of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, member tribes agreed to collaborate on ATNI Resolution 2022-25 stating a shared vision and principles for salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest. The resolution calls for strategic, collaborative, and coordinated mobilization for Tribal and federal action to address salmon recovery. The history of salmon recovery in the region is discussed to better understand this collaboration’s significance and the opportunities it presents. Regional salmon recovery projects undertaken by Inter-Tribal Organizations are detailed to show how ATNI Resolution 2022-25 can support and enhance the projects.