Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

06/02/2026

On this date 102 years ago, Congress granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States. Despite the fact that a Native idea and governance model was the inspiration behind the US Constitution, the actual Natives were denied citizenship to the country that Constitution created.

Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph noted this injustice in a 1879 speech delivered in Washington DC:

Treat all men alike. Give them the same laws. Give them all an even chance to live and grow. All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.
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On this date 102 years ago, Congress granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States. Despite the fact that a Native idea and

06/01/2026

The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission extends its deepest condolences to the families of the workers killed in last week's catastrophic tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave in Longview. Their loss is immeasurable and our hearts are with everyone grieving.

As confirmed by state and federal officials, the substance in the ruptured tank was primarily lye. Some lye reached the d**e and drainage system around the facility, but so far, the water flowing from it into the Columbia has been the same pH as the rest of the estuary. (Lye is sodium, oxygen, and hydrogen, so it dissolves into components that are naturally found in water.) CRITFC has put together a Frequently Asked Questions resource to help tribal members and the public understand what we know about the impacts to the river and its fish; please follow the link below for updates as this tragic situation continues to unfold.

On May 26, 2026, an 80,000-gallon storage tank at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington suffered a complete failure, releasing a large

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission!

05/29/2026

Members and staff of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission continued their spring on-site meeting in Leavenworth, Wash., Thursday, May 21, with a commission meeting opening and habitat tour hosted by the Yakama Nation.

Commissioners were welcomed by Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea, Washington State Senator Keith Goehner (District 12), Washington State Representative Brian Burnett (District 12), and returning Leavenworth City Council Member Zeke Reister before departing for a series of field stops along the Highway 2 corridor.

The tour — led by Hans Smith, Senior Special Projects Lead for Yakama Nation Fisheries — included visits to the Nason Creek Highway 207 habitat restoration project near Lake Wenatchee and the Skinney Creek Restoration site along Chiwaukum Creek Forest Service Road. The day concluded with a stop at Tumwater Dam, where Senior Policy and Production Advisor Cory Kamphaus of YN Fisheries led a discussion on the dam and its impacts on the region's fish populations.

Photos by CRITFC/JM. Gavin

05/29/2026

May 27, 2026 Fishery Announcement

Commercial Platform and Hook-and-Line Fishery
Area: All of Zone 6

Dates/Times:Fish caught in the Zone 6 platform and hook-and-line fishery after 6:00 AM on Thursday May 28 through 11:59 PM Monday, June 15

Commercial Platform and Hook-and-Line Fishery Area:  All of Zone 6 Dates/Times:Fish caught in the Zone 6 platform and hook-and-line fishery after 6:00 AM

05/26/2026

‘The Mother of All Roots’ Speaks Through Its Caretakers: Yakama Nation Resists Goldendale Pumped Storage Plan

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05/26/2026

Drummers, dancers, and community members from across the Columbia River region gathered at Wahtonka Community School in The Dalles for CRITFC's fourth annual Columbia River Round Dance to Honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. Between 200 and 300 people attended this year's event, which opened with a free community meal before dancing ran from 6 p.m. to midnight.

The round dance is hosted annually by CRITFC's Victim Assistance Program, which provides services to tribal members affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other violent crimes along the Columbia River corridor.

Volunteer photographer Julie Carter captured portraits of attendees throughout the evening. View and download photos here: https://bit.ly/CRRD2026

For more on the event and CRITFC's Victim Assistance Program: critfc.org

05/26/2026

❤️ Movement is medicine.

On May 1, hundreds of community members gathered at Wahtonka Community School in The Dalles for CRITFC's fourth annual Columbia River Round Dance to Honor Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.

This event, hosted by CRITFC's Victim Assistance Program, is more than a gathering. It's a ceremony of healing, a reminder that our communities are still here, still fighting, and still holding space for those who are no longer with us.

🔗 Read the full story:

THE DALLES, Ore.— A sea of red draped the walls and covered the dance floor during the fourth annual Columbia River Round Dance to Honor Missing and

05/23/2026

Members and staff of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission gathered in Leavenworth, Wash., Wednesday, May 20, for the opening day of their spring on-site meeting, hosted by the Yakama Nation.

Commissioners were welcomed to the Bavarian mountain town by Leavenworth City Council Member Zeke Reister before traveling to the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery on Icicle Creek — a facility that has partnered with Yakama Nation Fisheries since 2001 on a coho salmon program, together releasing more than 1.7 million juvenile salmon annually.

There, Yakama Nation Fisheries hosted a traditional salmon bake prepared by fisheries program staff, followed by a guided tour of three stations throughout the hatchery grounds.
Video by CRITFC/JM. Gavin

05/21/2026

The Lamprey Celebration is back! This year’s celebration will hosted by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation will be held June 25th at the Clackamette Park in Oregon City. Save the date and bring the family! Reach out to Yakama Nation Fisheries with any questions about the annual event.

We are excited to announce the 2026 Yakama Nation Willamette Falls Lamprey Celebration. The event will take place on Thursday, June 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Clackamette Park in Oregon City, OR.

We gather to honor Asum (Pacific Lamprey), one of our sacred first foods. The celebration is held near Willamette Falls—derived from our traditional Sahaptin name, Wilumpt—to honor our ancestors who have harvested at these falls since time immemorial. We also recognize the past leaders who fought to retain our harvest rights and the tribal members who continue this traditional practice today.

The celebration will include cultural dance performances; speakers from our tribal leaders and guests; a boat tour to Willamette Falls as well as a complimentary salmon & lamprey meal!

*Please scan the QR code on our flyer to RSVP for a meal ticket or visit https://yakama-lamprey-celebration-2026.eventbrite.com