Nez Perce

The Dam Problem with the Decline of Pacific Northwest Salmon For generations upon generations, native Salmon have played a crucial part in the culture of the Pacific Northwest. Native American culture has been influenced and built around salmon. Today, salmon populations are at an all-time low and populations are still plummeting. Many subspecies have gone extinct. Throughout the next several pages, I am going to explore what salmon are, how they have been used, what led to their decline, what…

to their land. They viewed the land and earth as things to be valued and cared for, they represented all things that produced and sustained life, embodied their existence and identity, and created an environment of belonging. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe said, “I know my race must change. We cannot hold our own with the white men as we are. We only ask an even chance to live as other men live. We ask to be recognized as men. We ask that the same law shall work alike on all men. Whenever…