Salmon Public Outreach and Education 2016

This project supported CTUIR education and outreach efforts during 2019. The CTUIR Department of Natural Resources (DNR) successfully completed its goals to inform the CTUIR community and the general public about how DNR is working to:
Protect, restore and enhance the First Foods including Salmon – for the perpetual cultural, economic and sovereign benefits of the CTUIR.

Project funding was utilized to successfully plan, coordinate and host the following Salmon Public Education and Outreach projects:

1. Make A Splash Salmon Expedition


The Make a Splash Salmon Expedition series was held during Spring of 2019 with area school participation (grades K-12) in an all-day educational field event focusing on salmon, wildlife, Ag Range & forestry and on salmon habitat and restoration projects. Smaller workshops followed during Spring-Fall 2019, for the public in the Walla, Umatilla, Columbia and Snake Watersheds within the CTUIR ceded territory. The CTUIR DNR staff and volunteers also educated students at 13 schools about the importance of protecting, preserving and restoring the natural resources and how they can make responsible choices.

2. Return to the River Salmon Festival

The Return to the River Salmon Festival was held in partnership with the Walla Walla Community College, William A. Grant Water and Environmental Center in May 2019. This event celebrated the exciting salmon recovery efforts and the return of the spring chinook to the Walla Walla River after being extinct for more than 80 years. The event showcased the partnerships between the CTUIR and the irrigation districts and individual landowners and their collaborative efforts to improve fish passage and habitat and restore instream flows to the river’s ecosystem. The festival also celebrated the work within the Walla Walla Valley and demonstrated how important the Walla Walla River is to the Tribes and their dedication to restoring the rivers ecological function necessary to sustain the First Foods.

3. CTUIR First Food Use and Access Excursions

The tribe increased outreach and education efforts regarding First Foods access (includes salmon and lamprey) and use opportunities for the community members of the CTUIR. DNR coordinated community excursion to gathering and fishing areas on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, ceded land base, and aboriginal use areas. Participants leanred about DNR salmon restoration project work, gathering sites that support First Foods and how to access these locations. Participants also learned when and how to gather and process First Foods, including salmon. Handouts, exhibits, and workshops were produced as part of this effort.

Overall, DNR utilized the Salmon projects to inform students and the public about aquatic and salmon conservation, endangered species, habitat restoration, protection, and access. Other topics also include water quality, hatcheries enhancements and management, First Foods and the ecological connections within a fully functional and health ecosytem. DNR works to provide outreach to students, the general public, the local community, local, state and federal government agencies, private entities, and education institutes in the forms of workshops, trainings and forums. These unique public venues provide opportunities for DNR staff to develop scientific posters for outreach events to showcase their project work and to highlight DNR program restoration efforts thoughout the CTUIR’s ceded and usual and accustomed areas.

Species that benefit from CTUIR outreach efforts include ESA listed summer steelhead and bull trout, reintroduced spring Chinook and Pacific lamprey, as well as vulnerable listed species (Oregon’s Sensitive Species rule): inland redband trout and margined sculpin. By educating the public about ESA listed and vulnerable species, there is an increased public support for habitat restoration projects and fish protection. School students share information with parents and family as they learn about their natural environment thereby increasing public support and partnerships for salmon restoration and future projects.