Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Working to put fish back in the Columbia River basin. CRITFC supports intertribal representation in planning, policy, and decision-making.

The organization operates by consensus and is governed by a commission made up of elected and appointed members of each member tribes’ fish and wildlife committees. CRITFC efforts are aligned with each of the four tribes’ respective fisheries programs through coordination. CRITFC is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the fisheries enforcement office is located in Hood River, Oregon, and the Hagerman Genetics Laboratory is located in Hagerman, Idaho.

Tribal fisheries experts and the public gathered at Bonneville Dam on June 24, 2026, for Lampreypalooza, an annual free ...
06/25/2026

Tribal fisheries experts and the public gathered at Bonneville Dam on June 24, 2026, for Lampreypalooza, an annual free event co-hosted by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. CRITFC and member tribes — the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs — staffed informational booths alongside federal, state, and nonprofit partners.

CRITFC biologists delivered presentations on the biology and cultural significance of Pacific lamprey to Columbia Basin tribes, while the commission’s mobile genetics laboratory gave visitors a firsthand look at how tribes are using DNA sequencing technology to support lamprey and salmon recovery. Pacific Lamprey Week continues today with the Yakama Nation Willamette Falls Lamprey Celebration at Clackamette Park in Oregon City.

Photo: CRITFC/F. Scissons

06/24/2026

Footage of morning outing to Willamette Falls:

Tribal fishers, youth, Yakama Nation Fisheries staff, and media make their way to Willamette Falls Wednesday morning during Pacific Lamprey Week, giving press a rare opportunity to document tribal lamprey harvesters at work at one of the Columbia River Basin’s most storied fishing sites. The outing, supported by CRITFC Fish Science, kicks off a week of events celebrating the Pacific lamprey — an ancient First Food and culturally significant species the tribes have worked for decades to restore.

Pacific Lamprey Week overview:

Pacific Lamprey Week 2026 brings a packed schedule of public events across the Portland area, with tribal harvesters, fisheries agencies, and community members gathering to celebrate and raise awareness about one of the region’s most ancient First Foods. On Wednesday, the public is invited to Lampreypalooza at Bonneville Dam and Hatchery from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where CRITFC, ODFW, WDFW, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will offer presentations, booths, and a chance to see live lamprey being held before tribal technicians transport them upriver — with CRITFC’s mobile genetics lab on site to showcase the high-tech restoration work the tribes are leading.

On Thursday, the Yakama Nation hosts its 5th Annual Willamette Falls Lamprey Celebration, featuring tribal dancing, informational displays about lamprey and other First Foods, a complimentary lunch of salmon and roasted lamprey, and a return appearance by the mobile genetics lab.

Video by CRITFC/JM. Gavin

Salmon campers navigate the Deschutes River during a whitewater rafting trip on Wednesday, June 17, the third day of the...
06/22/2026

Salmon campers navigate the Deschutes River during a whitewater rafting trip on Wednesday, June 17, the third day of the 2026 CRITFC Salmon Camp at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort.

The day’s curriculum focused on water quality, macroinvertebrates, invasive species and habitat restoration. That evening, campers gathered around the campfire for poster presentation preparation and a storytelling session with Tribal storyteller Josiah Blackeagle. Photos by CRITFC/ Clark Shimeall

Today is World Rainforest Day 🌍🌧️🌲🌳🌴🪾What often goes untold: the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and...
06/22/2026

Today is World Rainforest Day 🌍🌧️🌲🌳🌴🪾

What often goes untold: the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and Nez Perce Tribe have temperate rainforests within their ceded territories — ecosystems these nations have stewarded since time immemorial.

From the old-growth stands of the Cascades to the inland temperate rainforests of the Lochsa River corridor in Idaho, tribal stewardship has always been central to the health of these forests — and the watersheds, fish runs, and communities that depend on them.

The Pacific Northwest’s temperate rainforests have some of the most powerful climate stories in the world.

The Pacific Coast rainforest stores more carbon per unit area than any other forest on Earth, and it represents more than one-third of all remaining temperate rainforests worldwide.

On , we recognize that protecting these ecosystems means honoring the sovereignty and land stewardship of the tribes who have cared for them longest.

🌲

06/22/2026

Join us and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission for a free day of science, storytelling, and up-close encounters with one of the Northwest’s most ancient and culturally significant native fish.

Returning to Bonneville Lock & Dam June 24, Lampreypalooza is a free, family-friendly event highlighting the importance of Pacific lamprey and the collaborative efforts to support their recovery.

Come out from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to explore interactive exhibits, see live lamprey, and hear from Tribal representatives and fisheries experts across multiple locations at the dam.

Check the comments for more details and a schedule of events!

06/22/2026

Lamprey Week is here. Two events are celebrating the cultural and ecological significance of Pacific lamprey along the Columbia River system this week.

On June 24, LampreyPalooza takes place at the Bonneville Dam Bradford Island Visitor Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On June 25, the 2026 Annual Clackamas Nation Willamette Falls Lamprey Celebration runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Clackamette Park, featuring cultural dances, speakers, boat tours, educational booths, a salmon luncheon and more.

Pacific lamprey — known as kapn in Ichishkíin and by other names across tribal languages — hold deep cultural, spiritual and nutritional importance to Columbia River tribes. Join the celebration.

Day One of the Delta Park Pow Wow kicked off Friday evening in Portland, drawing dancers and drums together to open the ...
06/21/2026

Day One of the Delta Park Pow Wow kicked off Friday evening in Portland, drawing dancers and drums together to open the Father's Day weekend celebration.

The three-day pow wow concludes today, stay tuned for coverage of days two and three from CRITFC.
📸 CRITFC/JM Gavin

Photos of the final day of the Yakama Nation Treaty Days Pow Wow. 2026-2027 Treaty Days royalty were crowned on Sunday o...
06/21/2026

Photos of the final day of the Yakama Nation Treaty Days Pow Wow. 2026-2027 Treaty Days royalty were crowned on Sunday of the event, held annually in White Swan, Wash.

Photos by CRITFC/JM. Gavin

Today is Juneteenth, a day that marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver long-over...
06/19/2026

Today is Juneteenth, a day that marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver long-overdue news: more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, driven in large part by the decades-long advocacy of Civil Rights activist and retired teacher Opal Lee (the “grandmother of Juneteenth”) who famously said of the day, “It’s not a Texas thing, it’s not a Black thing, it’s freedom for everybody.” That same year, CRITFC began observing the holiday in solidarity and in celebration of perseverance, strength, and sovereignty.

June is also African American Music Appreciation Month, designated by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 to honor the profound contributions Black artists have made to American music. Together, the music, the cookouts, and the community gatherings that mark Juneteenth reflect a people who have transformed their deepest struggles into enduring expressions of culture and joy.

As we mark the fifth year of federal recognition, Juneteenth remains a living reminder that the pursuit of equality and human rights is ongoing. CRITFC encourages you to honor this day by learning its history and seeking out Juneteenth events in Portland or your local community.

The sold out Miss Indian North West Pageant has just begun at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry this evening. At...
06/19/2026

The sold out Miss Indian North West Pageant has just begun at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry this evening.

Attendees began gathering hours before the doors opened and eagerly await the beginning of the talent and cultural portion of the competitive event. Stay tuned for coverage provided by CRITFC!

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