Tribal Perspectives on the Absence of Fish Passage at an Impassable Dam

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Webinar Essentials:
Tribal Perspectives on the Absence of Fish Passage at an Impassable Dam
May 23rd, 2023
3 PM Eastern / 12:00 PM Pacific / Duration: 60 Minutes
Warren Seyler, Spokane Tribe of Indians
Summary: Join us for a discussion reviewing what it was like for Spokane ancestors as they lived as a semi-nomadic river people living upon the Plateau. Spokane people for thousands of years lived from what the river provided in the form of salmon, steelhead, shellfish, and eel. These river foods provided 65% of their diet; where their songs, ceremony, culture, and traditions were based on this way of living. He will review the Spokane River and how it was once a world-class fishery and what made this possible. Next, he will visit the destruction of it all. First looking at the exploitation of the salmon, where far down river fish wheels reduced the fish to near extinction. He will then discuss the dams that blocked the salmon from returning to Spokane waters. He will complete this discussion with today’s efforts by the Spokane tribe and others to get these historic fish back into the blocked area above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams.
About the Speaker: Warren Seyler is a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians and a prolific storyteller. He served for fifteen years on the Spokane Tribe’s Business Council, taking a leadership role in the regional and national efforts of health, education, and welfare of tribal people. One of his long-term efforts was directed toward getting salmon back above Grand Coulee Dam into the blocked areas. For the past 15 years, Mr. Seyler has traveled the region as a liaison of the Spokane tribe delivering Spokane Tribe history presentations and giving historic site tours to high school students, university classes, interested parties, and organizations of various disciplines.
About the Committee:
The Joint Committee on Fisheries Engineering and Science hosts a free webinar series as part of its mission to engage scientists and engineers on topics related to fish passage. The Committee consists of members of the American Fisheries Society Bioengineering Section (AFS-BES) and the American Society of Civil Engineers Environmental and Water Resources Institute (ASCE-EWRI). It was established in January 2011 to foster communication between the two groups, provide opportunities for engineers and biologists to share relevant knowledge and learn from one another, and to collaborate on projects related to fish passage.
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