Federal officials took away a way of life that had sustained Pacific Northwest tribes for centuries. So some tribal members became outlaws. During the 1960s and beyond, Native activists fought back against state and federal restrictions on their fishing rights – a period known as the “fish wars”. They held “fish ins” and fought for their rights in court. Randy Settler's parents won some major battles in the fish wars, but their methods were controversial even within their tribe. 

Ep 3: The Court Battles

Salmon are essential to Columbia River tribal people. These fish represent not only a food source but a way of life. As a white kid growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Tony Schick heard a lot about salmon &mdash; how important they are to this region, and how much trouble they&rsquo;re in now. But the history he learned was not the whole story. As an investigative reporter for OPB and ProPublica, he&rsquo;s been working to uncover and understand a more sinister version of events. And along the way, he connected with a guy named Randy Settler and his family.
&ldquo;Salmon Wars,&rdquo; a production from OPB and ProPublica, tells the story of salmon in the Northwest in a way you haven&rsquo;t heard before &ndash; through the voices of one Yakama Nation family&nbsp; who have been fighting for salmon for generations. We&rsquo;ll dive into hidden history. We&rsquo;ll investigate who&rsquo;s to blame for the salmon vanishing, and what can be done before it&rsquo;s too late.&nbsp;
&nbsp;


Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

We hear the voices of tribal elders who remember Celilo Falls before The Dalles Dam silenced this sacred fishing spot. Many of the voices you hear in this episode were shared, with permission, by Confluence. Confluence is a nonprofit focused on the Columbia River system. The organization has collected oral histories from Native people, many of whom remember Celilo Falls before the dam.

Bonus Episode: Celilo Memories

Salmon hatcheries set up by the federal government prioritized ocean fishermen over river tribes and created genetically inferior fish. In this final episode, we visit a tribal hatchery to see how they’re doing things differently. And we’ll hear from 11-year-old Aiyana about how she thinks about carrying on her family’s legacy.

Ep 6: The Future

Salmon have been on the decline for more than 100 years. The federal government knows why. It knows who killed the salmon. And how. But for decades it’s been telling a tale of progress, and obscuring the ugliest truth.
We’re going to uncover it.
 

Ep 5: The Crime

Salmon used to be plentiful and they’ve been a staple of tribal diets for centuries. Since the early 1900s, salmon populations in the Columbia River have steadily declined thanks to overfishing, dams, habitat loss and warming waters. Hatcheries are one way the U.S. government has tried to make up for the loss of wild salmon. But it hasn’t worked. In this episode, we examine what the decline of salmon has meant for Columbia River tribes.

Ep 4: The Salmon’s Struggle

You heard from Randy Settler’s cousin, LiaDonna Lopez Whitefoot, in the most recent episode of Salmon Wars. She’s the one who was fearless in the face of a blockade of boats trying to block Native people from accessing fishing sites. She worked closely with Randy’s mom in the family fishing business. In this bonus episode, we’re bringing you more of her memories from that time, and of Randy’s mom, Mary, in particular.

Ep 3: The Court Battles

Download our free app to listen on your phone