All tastiness aside, the discrepancy in funding for protecting different species in the case of Chinook salmon and steelhead makes perfect sense. Salmon is the lifeblood of the pacific northwest. It feeds the forests, wildlife, communities, and the economy. It is no surprise that nearly 80% of funding was devoted to these two species. Populations of Chinook salmon and steelhead have declined rapidly since the 1980s and it appears despite our best efforts they are continuing to decline.
Chinook salmon and steelhead are of cultural importance to Indian tribes that have historically lived along waterways in the pacific northwest. Treaties signed in the 19th Century by the United States and Indian tribes (sovereign nations) reserved the rights of natives to harvest salmon. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian treaties are considered to be "the supreme law of the land," and they are "the foundation upon which federal Indian law and the federal Indian trust relationship is based". Basically, if there are no fish for them to harvest due to actions that were taken by the US, the US is breaking a treaty. …show more content…
Salmon is used in their religious services. The tribes celebrate the return of the salmon as a "renewal and continuation of human and all other life". Some tribal members still use fishing as their livelihood. They recognize the salmon and rivers as part of their sense of place and feel obligated to protect it. They use the salmon harvest as an opportunity to transfer traditional values from generation to generation. Salmon is a tradition for these native peoples and they feel without it they would cease to exist. Essentially, without salmon, an entire culture would be
Chinook salmon and steelhead are of cultural importance to Indian tribes that have historically lived along waterways in the pacific northwest. Treaties signed in the 19th Century by the United States and Indian tribes (sovereign nations) reserved the rights of natives to harvest salmon. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian treaties are considered to be "the supreme law of the land," and they are "the foundation upon which federal Indian law and the federal Indian trust relationship is based". Basically, if there are no fish for them to harvest due to actions that were taken by the US, the US is breaking a treaty. …show more content…
Salmon is used in their religious services. The tribes celebrate the return of the salmon as a "renewal and continuation of human and all other life". Some tribal members still use fishing as their livelihood. They recognize the salmon and rivers as part of their sense of place and feel obligated to protect it. They use the salmon harvest as an opportunity to transfer traditional values from generation to generation. Salmon is a tradition for these native peoples and they feel without it they would cease to exist. Essentially, without salmon, an entire culture would be