08/08/2026
“We have always been a fish people.”
— Klamath Tribal teaching
The c’waam and Koptu: Fish of the Klamath Basin and Klamath Tribes
The c’waam (Lost River sucker), koptu (Shortnose sucker), and yen (Klamath largescale sucker) are fish found nowhere else in the world. For the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin peoples, these fish are far more than a food source; they are a sacred relative that have sustained our communities physically, culturally, and spiritually since time immemorial.
For thousands of years, our people lived throughout the Klamath Basin, harvesting from the lakes, rivers, wetlands, and marshes. During the long winter months, families relied on food gathered and preserved during times of abundance. As winter came to an end, the return of the c’waam, koptu, and yen brought renewed hope and celebration. Large runs of fish migrated to the Williamson, Sprague, Lost River and springs along Upper Klamath Lake, providing an essential source of food and marking the arrival of spring.
The return of the fish was honored through the first c’waam ceremony. Klamath teachings tell us that creator gmok’ am’c instructed the people to hold this ceremony each year when the “fish blanket snow” fell during the little finger month, around the end of March. The first fish caught was treated with great respect and ceremony. Through prayer and thanksgiving, the people honored the fish and ensured that they would continue to return in abundance.
The first c’waam ceremony was held from time immemorial and remained an important tradition for generations. The last traditionally recorded ceremony was conducted in 1932 by tribal elder Lee Snipes, known as Captain Sky. After the Klamath tribal people made the sovereign decision to cease harvesting these fish due to their declining numbers, tribal elders requested that the ceremony be revived in 1988, and it has been held annually ever since.
In the old days our ceremony was more than a spiritual observance. It was also a time for gathering trade, feasting, games, horse racing, and renewing relationships among neighboring tribes. Communities from throughout the region including Klamath, Modoc, Yahooskin, Molalla, Pit River, Takelma, and Warm Springs peoples came together to celebrate the return of the fish.
Elders described a time when the abundance of c’waam, koptu, and yen was so great that the water appeared to boil with fish. These stories remind us of the deep connection between healthy ecosystems and healthy communities.
The restoration of c’waam and koptu has long been, and remains, a central goal of the Klamath Tribes. Recovery remains the enduring hope. It is the hope that future generations will once again witness abundant runs of these fish and renew the relationship among the people, the fish, and the waters of the Klamath Basin. In doing so, they can continue the traditions that have defined the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin peoples since time immemorial.
Sadly, the future of our sacred relatives is uncertain, and extinction looms like a dark cloud over the Klamath tribal people. The Klamath Tribes will continue to work tirelessly and unwaveringly to conserve these fish, dedicating every available resource to their recovery. However, preventing this devastating loss will require expanding and strengthening these efforts.
