Oregon Field Guide
Salmon People: The Fight to Preserve a Way of Life
Season 34 Episode 6 | 27m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
This Field Guide special brings you into the world of Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum, the Salmon People.
When the salmon are running up the Columbia River, Native people are there with them. The river is a way of life for the Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum, the Salmon People. Over the last century and a half, they have watched as forces eroded their access to salmon. The stakes in their fight to preserve the salmon, and their way of life, are existential.
Oregon Field Guide is a local public television program presented by OPB
Oregon Field Guide
Salmon People: The Fight to Preserve a Way of Life
Season 34 Episode 6 | 27m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
When the salmon are running up the Columbia River, Native people are there with them. The river is a way of life for the Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum, the Salmon People. Over the last century and a half, they have watched as forces eroded their access to salmon. The stakes in their fight to preserve the salmon, and their way of life, are existential.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipMajor support for Oregon Field Guide is provided by... [ ♪♪♪ ] MAN: My rappel!
MAN: Oh, my gosh, it's beautiful.
MAN: Good morning, everybody.
Woo!
Let's do it again!
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MAN: Oh, yeah!
Fourteen and a half.
Yes, that was awesome!
[ people cheering ] There you go, up, up... ED JAHN: This is a special presentation of Oregon Field Guide.
There is a salmon crisis in the Northwest.
But what's often lost in the stories you hear about wildlife decline is the U.S. government's treaty-bound obligation to Columbia River tribes that tribes will be able to fish in these waters for salmon forever.
Take a look at the news, and you'll see stories about conflict and habitat loss and policy with little mention of the human toll.
And that's why Oregon Field Guide is teaming up with ProPublica for this deep look at how the crisis is playing out for one Native family whose entire lives are intertwined with salmon.
WOMAN: GIRL: [ ♪♪♪ ] [ ♪♪♪ ] MAN [ on-screen ]: NEWSREEL NARRATOR: GIRL: AIYANA: AIYANA: AIYANA'S FATHER: AIYANA: [ giggles ] [ ♪♪♪ ] [ giggles ] SAMUEL: AIYANA, THEN SAMUEL: AIYANA: SAMUEL: [ ice rattling ] AIYANA: RANDY: [ ♪♪♪ ] [ Woody Guthrie's "Roll, Columbia, Roll" playing ] NEWSREEL NARRATOR: RANDY: [ ♪♪♪ ] AIYANA: DONNA: [ ♪♪♪ ] [ drums beating, people chanting ] MAN: AIYANA: SAMUEL: AIYANA: RANDY: DONNA: [ chuckles ] RANDY: AIYANA: RANDY: [ ♪♪♪ ] RANDY: You can now find many Oregon Field Guide stories and episodes online.
And to be part of the conversation about the outdoors and environment here in the Northwest, join us on Facebook.
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Oregon Field Guide is a local public television program presented by OPB