Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

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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.

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – Actor Lily Gladstone (Blackfeet and Nez Perce) addressed the Rise Up Northwest in Unity (R.U.N.)...
10/23/2026

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – Actor Lily Gladstone (Blackfeet and Nez Perce) addressed the Rise Up Northwest in Unity (R.U.N.) Conference on Oct. 15, its final day at the Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino, speaking about her work with Native youth, her path into acting and her ties to Lapwai, Idaho, the center of the Nez Perce Tribe’s homeland.

Gladstone, an Academy Award-nominated actor, spoke about her work with young people and the calling that led her to acting. She also spoke about her family connections to Lapwai. The conference’s theme, “Inspiring Action at the Speed of Trust,” ran through the three-day gathering, which drew tribal leaders, fisheries scientists, youth and conservation partners to protect salmon, a First Food and a relative to the Columbia Plateau tribes.

Gladstone met with youth attendees before and after her speech, then stayed to take photos with conference attendees. Youth were a focus throughout the conference, including students from Lapwai High School, the Salmon Youth Protectors and Klamath Nation youth.

Photos by CRITFC/JM. Gavin

Columbia/Snake River Campaign Nez Perce Tribe

The October CRITFC commission meeting was held at CRITFC’s fish genetics lab in Hagerman, Idaho this week. It was also t...
10/23/2026

The October CRITFC commission meeting was held at CRITFC’s fish genetics lab in Hagerman, Idaho this week. It was also the opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fish genetics lab. Guests in attendance included representatives from the University of Idaho, which partners with CRITFC in operating the facility; Ed Shreiver, Idaho delegate of the Northwest Power Council; representatives from both Senator Risch and Senator Crapo’s offices, and Idaho Fish & Game. CRITFC Executive Director Aja DeCoteau and the dean of the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources, Dennis Becker presented CRITFC’s Genetics Lead Shawn Narum with a plaque, reading:

Commemorating two decades of partnership between the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and the University of Idaho in the development and operation of the nationally recognized Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station.

The work, discoveries, and collaboration from this facility has led to many scientific advances that have contributed to fisheries recovery in the Snake and Columbia river basins and furthered the biological, genetic, and ecological understanding of salmon, lamprey, and other fish species important to all people of the region.

We celebrate these accomplishments and aim for further advances in decades to come.

The celebration concluded with a picnic on the lab grounds featuring Columbia River smoked salmon provided by CRITFC, sturgeon provided by Idaho Fish and Game, and locally raised rainbow trout.

Photos by CRITFC

FAIRVIEW, Ore. – Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission staff hosted a booth and joined volunteers planting wapato ...
10/20/2026

FAIRVIEW, Ore. – Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission staff hosted a booth and joined volunteers planting wapato in the wetlands at Chinook Landing Marine Park during Salmon Days on Oct. 9-10, 2026.

The free event, organized by Metro's Community Education and Stewardship Team with Indigenous community partners, also included storytelling, nature activities and a salmon bake.

CRITFC, which supports the fisheries management of the Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Nez Perce tribes, shared information on salmon, wapato and other First Foods, which the tribes have stewarded since time immemorial. Photos by CRITFC/JM. Gavin

Metro

It’s time again! 🍁🎄🧵🧶🪶Native Arts & Craft is returning to CRITFC November 13th! See details below:
10/19/2026

It’s time again! 🍁🎄🧵🧶🪶

Native Arts & Craft is returning to CRITFC November 13th! See details below:

10/17/2026

CMOP Ribbon Cutting

Annual mini pow wow at Barbie’s Village brings in more than 500 people on Indigenous Peoples DayFamilies and community m...
10/17/2026

Annual mini pow wow at Barbie’s Village brings in more than 500 people on Indigenous Peoples Day

Families and community members gathered Oct. 12 at Barbie's Village in Northeast Portland for the annual Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration and Children's Pow Wow, hosted by the Future Generations Collaborative. The four-hour event featured a free salmon dinner, vendors and a children's pow wow, along with a talk by guest speaker Cinnamon Kills First, a Northern Cheyenne author.

The collaborative works with support from the Native Wellness Institute. Jillene Joseph, Aaniiih (Gros Ventre) and executive director of the Portland-based institute shared information about the event with CRITFC while volunteering to keep the pow wow rolling. Metro, Multnomah County, a local architecture firm, sponsor Scott Anderson and volunteers also supported the event. Barbie's Village, at 935 NE 33rd Ave., is a tiny home community for Native American families experiencing homelessness, named for Atway Barbie Jackson Shields, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Salmon, one of the First Foods central to Columbia River Plateau tribal cultures, anchored the community meal. Portland is within the usual and accustomed lands of member tribes of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission: the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Nez Perce Tribe.

Photos by CRITFC/JM. Gavin

10/16/2026

Our lands, waters, and salmon need your vote!
We’re less than three weeks away, and this November, we will have a very consequential midterm election – are you ready to vote? This election carries consequences for ecological recovery, clean air, land preservation, and the overall well-being of our communities.
Washington resident's voter registration deadline: Online or by mail: October 26. In-person: register any time before 8pm on Nov. 3
Oregon resident's voter registration deadline: A new registrant must submit their online registration by 11:59pm on Oct. 21. Complete a Voter Registration form and return it to your county elections office any time before 8pm on Nov. 3
Idaho Resident's Voter registration deadline: Mail-in and online registrations must be received by 5pm on Oct. 23, or in-person by 5pm on the Friday, Oct. 30.

Check your voter registration status here: https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/

Encourage your friends, family, and community to vote with salmon and rivers in mind this fall!

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – The second day of the Rise Up Northwest in Unity (R.U.N.) Conference on Oct. 14 at the Spokane T...
10/16/2026

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – The second day of the Rise Up Northwest in Unity (R.U.N.) Conference on Oct. 14 at the Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino turned to dam removal, emerging threats to the Columbia Basin, and cultural gathering.

The day opened with a prayer and breakfast, followed by remarks from the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Yakama Nation, whose 1855 treaty reserves the right to fish at usual and accustomed places. A morning panel, "Restoration of Sacred Waters," examined the lead-up to and aftermath of dam removal.

Midday, attendees gathered for a mini-powwow with round dances, an owl dance and inter-tribals, along with the Spokane Tribal Happy Dance. The drum group Lightning Creek led the dancing. The group also brought the big drum to last year's R.U.N. conference.

Afternoon breakouts covered small modular reactors, sustainable farming, youth engagement, orca stories, data centers, Stibnite and roadless rule issues, storytelling through film, faith and stewardship, and recreation in the basin. Author David James Duncan delivered the keynote, followed by closing comments.

The day ended with a dinner and reception featuring performer Isaac Tonasket, a Colville and Spokane singer, songwriter, actor and director who blends contemporary originals with traditional chants and honor songs.

Photos by CRITFC/JM. Gavin

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – Tribal leaders, fisheries scientists, youth and conservation partners open the fourth annual Ris...
10/14/2026

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – Tribal leaders, fisheries scientists, youth and conservation partners open the fourth annual Rise Up Northwest in Unity (R.U.N.) Conference on Oct. 13 at the Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino. The theme is "Inspiring Action at the Speed of Trust."

The first day opens with a prayer and welcome from the Spokane Tribe of Indians. Elaine Harvey (Kamiltpah, Yakama Nation), CRITFC Watershed Program Manager, speaks during the general assembly on the Success for Our First Foods panel. The panel discusses the significance of First Foods to the tribes and highlights the tribes leading the effort to protect and conserve them. Harvey describes tribal work to restore First Food habitats and stresses the importance of bringing youth into harvesting, preserving, ceremony and the conversation itself.

Dr. Zach Penney (Nez Perce), CRITFC Director of Strategic Initiatives, moderates a breakout session on the Columbia River Basin's fish runs and the tribal and agency work to restore them.

In a youth-only breakout, Angela Picard (Nez Perce) leads a stick game teaching session and plays with the youth gathered. They include students from Lapwai High School, members of the Salmon Youth Protectors group, and Klamath Nation youth. Other breakouts cover barge transportation on the lower Snake River, toxic chemical reduction, and Southern Resident orcas.

In the evening, the Seven Sisters campaign gathers at Spokane Live, led by Kayeloni Scott (Nez Perce). The Se'Si'Le-led initiative elevates seven Indigenous women leaders working on biodiversity loss, climate disruption and environmental injustice. The women speak about protecting salmon and tribal heritage, and about the covenant between the salmon and the Columbia Plateau tribes. For these tribes, salmon is a brother and the First Food. The tribes' treaty-reserved fishing rights, secured in the 1855 treaties, remain tied to that relationship.

Photos by CRITFC/JM. Gavin

Nez Perce Tribe

10/12/2026

Part Two:

Today, we honor our people, the original stewards of this land, and the ancestors who fought to protect our right to fish, hunt and gather at all our usual and accustomed places.

Despite centuries of attempts to take our lands and erase our culture, we are still here, exercising our treaty rights along the Columbia River as our elders fiercely protected them.

These rights are about more than sustenance. They are about sovereignty, and our promise to care for the river and our First Foods as they care for us.

This Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate our ongoing presence, our treaty rights and our future.

— Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Featuring: Corinne Sams (CRITFC Vice Chair and Board of Trustees member), Christopher "Ish" Williams (CRITFC Commissioner and CTUIR Fish and Wildlife Commissioner), Vincent Sheoships (CRITFC extern and Lewis & Clark Law School student) and Abraham Shippentower (Yakama Nation Warrior and CTUIR Youth Leadership Council Cultural Ambassador)

Address

700 NE Multnomah Street, Ste 1200
Portland, OR
97232

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15032380667

Website

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