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Public Information Officer
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Press Releases


2009 Releases
Davis Washines named CRITFC’s Chief of Enforcement
8 March 2010
Davis E. Washines, a member of the Yakama Nation, takes charge today of CRITFC’s enforcement responsibilities as the commission’s new Chief of Law Enforcement. Washines, whose tribal name is Yellowash, comes to CRITFC with extensive history in tribal law enforcement and over 25 years of experience.

Aja DeCoteau Named CRITFC’s Watershed Department Manager
March 1, 2010
Aja K. DeCoteau, a member of the Yakama Nation, is joining the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) on March 8 as the new manager for CRITFC’s watershed department. DeCoteau, 29, has been serving as the program manager for the Yakama Nation’s Environmental Management Program in Toppenish WA for the past two years.

Tribes Praise President’s Budget Increase for Treaty Rights Protection in 2011
2 Feb 2010
Tribal leaders from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) are praising the Obama Administration today for a long-sought funding increase for tribal treaty rights-based natural resource management.

The Nez Perce Tribe asks Ninth Circuit Court To Overturn FERC Decision Approving the Bradwood Landing LNG Project
27 January 2010
The Nez Perce Tribe filed a petition in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals asking the court to step in on behalf of salmon and overturn the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's approval of the proposed Bradwood Landing Liquefied Natural Gas terminal and pipeline.

Fishery managers predict 470,000 Columbia River spring Chinook in 2010
10 Dec 2009
The technical committee advising Columbia River fishery managers has released its forecast for the 2010 spring Chinook run. If the fish show up as projected, the forecast of 470,000 spring chinook would be the largest return to the Columbia since 1938.

600,000 Coho Eggs Make Nine Hour Journey Home
10 Dec 2009
Approximately 600,000 bright orange live-eyed Clearwater coho salmon eggs from the Clearwater River in northern Idaho made the 400-mile, nine-hour trip back home to the Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery in Estacada, Oregon.

CRITFC, the Accords, and the Biological Opinion
Sept 2009
An explanation of the CRITFC member tribes' various positions regarding the Columbia Basin Fish Accords.

Tim Weaver honored by ATNI by resolution (ATNI Res. 09-61)
Sept 2009
At the September Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Annual Conference, long-time Yakama tribal attorney Tim Weaver was honored.

McCoy Oatman Named CRITFC Chair
22 Sept 2009
Oatman, member of the Nez Perce Tribe’s Executive Committee and CRITFC commissioner, becomes chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

Tribes Open Fall Commercial Fishery
24 August 2009
Tribal fishers from the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Yakama tribes opened their 2009 fall commercial season today for the sales of Columbia River fish.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Visits Northwest Tribes
3 August 2009
Larry EchoHawk, U.S. assistant secretary for Indian affairs, made his first visit to the Pacific Northwest as the head of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to meet with leaders of the 24 treaty Indian tribes in the Pacific Northwest.

Rebecca Miles Chosen to Lead CRITFC
17 July 2009
Rebecca Miles, Nez Perce tribal member, and official, was selected by her treaty tribal officials to lead the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) 2009-2010 officer team as its chair. Miles election this morning makes her one of the youngest commissioners to serve in the position.

Sockeye Return to Yakima Basin after 103-year Absence
7 July 2009
The Yakama Nation today took a historic step toward restoration of sockeye salmon to the Yakima basin by reintroducing adult sockeye into Lake Cle Elum.

Columbia River tribal commercial fishery begins today
16 June 2009
Sales of local, fresh summer Chinook (historically called "June Hogs" because of their size), steelhead, sockeye and incidentally caught walleye, shad and carp opens today, June 16, at 6 a.m. and continue until further notice.

Tribes find success in hatchery supplementation
12 June 2009
CRITFC question the conclusions of a recent scientific study that claims the interbreeding of hatchery and wild steelhead can reduce the reproductive success of future steelhead generations.

Tribes, feds, and states celebrate first year of new era in Columbia Basin fisheries protection
8 May 2009
Nearly 400 tribal, federal, state and local leaders returned Friday to a historic fishing village on the banks of the Columbia River, celebrating unprecedented collaboration cemented a year ago at the same place by Columbia Basin Fish Accords.

CRITFC leaders name Babtist (Paul) Lumley new Executive Director
29 April 2009
Babtist (Paul) Lumley, a member of the Yakama Indian Nation and 23-year veteran of American Indian policy, is returning to the Columbia Basin after a five- year absence to serve as the executive director for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

Pinkham leaves CRITFC for native nation-building in Midwest
12 March 2009
Jaime Pinkham, Nez Perce tribal member and Watershed Department Manager for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), will say good-bye to CRITFC and the Columbia Basin after four and a half years of dedication to salmon restoration and tribal treaty fishing rights.

Tribal fish management move to the head of science class with new genetics technology
13 Jan 2009
CRITFC is the first in the Columbia Basin to integrate a revolutionary genetics technology to advance salmon management. The new technology known as integrated fluidic circuits, or IFCs, read the genetic code of specific genes of interest in salmon and steelhead populations.

2008 Releases
Federal judge rejects Humane Society challenge to sea lion management
26 Nov 2008
The tribes expressed strong support today for a federal court ruling against a humane society lawsuit that sought to block the removal of predatory sea lions from Bonneville Dam.

Collaborative effort launches rulemaking process for revised water quality standard
23 October 2008
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) and its member tribes commended the State of Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) today for their unanimous vote to approve an action that begins a yearlong rulemaking process to revise Oregon’s toxic criteria for human health.

CRITFC and basin tribes petition for rehearing on LNG decision
20 Oct 2008
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and Nez Perce Tribe are joining the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the states of Washington and Oregon and a coalition of public interest groups in filing a request for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reconsider its premature approval of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Bradwood Landing site in the Columbia River estuary.

25th annual Oxbow Salmon Festival anticipating sun and salmon
6 October 2008
Metro’s Salmon Festival celebrates the fall Chinook that spawn in the Sandy River along Oxbow Regional Park. About 10,000 young and young-at-heart visitors will descend on the event October 11-12, 2008 to enjoy guided river walks, music, craft activities and CRITFC’s Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum Village.

Columbia River Treaty Tribes Plan to Appeal FERC’s Flawed Decision on Bradwood LNG Project
18 Sept 2008
The Columbia River treaty tribes expressed disappointment today over the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s conditional approval of a liquefied natural gas terminal in the heart of the Columbia River estuary.

Fall tribal commercial fishery beginning
19 August 2008
Bright and early on Tuesday morning tribal fishers will begin their main Columbia River Fall Chinook commercial fishing season; providing the public with ample opportunities to purchase fresh, Indian-caught salmon directly from tribal fishers.

10-year Agreement Forged for Columbia River Salmon Harvest, Production
13 August 2008
A new 10-year agreement guiding salmon harvest and production on the Columbia River, approved yesterday by a federal judge, provides a long-term framework for rebuilding weak fish populations and conducting sustainable fisheries.

Tribes express concern, offer enforcement aid to lamprey/steelhead dumping investigation
8 August 2008
Columbia River tribal leaders expressed concern today over the discovery of dumped and wasted steelhead and Pacific lamprey at Celilo Park on the Columbia River.

Olney “JP” Patt, Jr. steps down as CRITFC executive director
21 July 2008
Olney “JP” Patt, Jr. today announced his resignation as the executive director of the Portland, Oregon-based Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission effective August 1st, 2008.

Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Welcomes its 2008-2009 Officers
16 July 2008
The newly elected officers of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

Columbia River Tribal Salmon Harvest Returns!
18 June 2008
Members of the salmon-loving community can take heart, local salmon is available. The highly anticipated tribal summer fishery will begin to satisfy local appetites for the best salmon available.

Columbia River Chinook returns boosted under new US/Canada salmon agreement
22 May 2008
Negotiators from the United States and Canada today announced completion of a ten-year agreement for Chinook management under the Pacific Salmon Treaty that promotes sustainability through reductions in ocean fisheries and funding of improved assessment programs.

Officials recover body of one Yakama fisher today, two other remain lost Multi-agency search effort continues
18 May 2008
Officials today recovered the body of Yakama Nation tribal fisherman, James Peter Jr., who went missing along with two other Yakama Fishers on May 7th, 2008.

Multi-agency search continues for three tribal fishermen missing on the Columbia River
9 May 2008
The Yakama Nation Fisheries Enforcement, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Enforcement, Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary are continuing search efforts for three tribal fishermen who went missing on the Columbia River Wednesday morning when they failed to return from salmon fishing.

Tribes open prized spring fishery for the first time years
5 May 2008
For the first time in several years, fishers from the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes will be selling the most coveted of all the Columbia River salmon, the prized spring Chinook.

Tribes and feds end decades of legal battles to begin new era
2 May 2008
Years of divisiveness over salmon recovery efforts in the Columbia River Basin ended today for the tribes and federal agencies that signed unprecedented agreements designed to deliver specific, scientifically valid biological results for the region’s fish. The agreements, celebrated today with traditional tribal ceremonies at a place of cultural significance in the Columbia River Gorge, are now called The Columbia Basin Fish Accords.

Columbia River Treaty Tribes Praise Federal Decision on Problem Sea Lions
18 March 2008
Strong praise came today from leaders of the Columbia River treaty tribes for a federal decision authorizing increased management of nuisance sea lions exploiting endangered salmon stocks.

Sea lions vs. salmon: Restore balance and common sense
15 February 2008
An opinion piece by CRITFC Chair Fidelia Andy commenting on the recommendation by NOAA Fisheries to allow limited lethal removal of problem California sea lions below Bonneville Dam.

Treaty Tribes Praise Federal Sea Lion Recommendation
17 January 2008
Leaders of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission's member tribes today expressed strong support for a federal recommendation to authorize limited lethal removal of California sea lions whose impact on endangered Columbia River salmon has reached crisis levels.

2007 Releases
CRITFC wins SOLV Citizenship Award
4 December 2007
On November 8th the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission's hard work and dedication towards protecting and restoring salmon in the Columbia River Basin was recognized by SOLV at its 14th annual Citizenship Awards Banquet.

The Dalles Reservoir Sturgeon Research Activities to Commence
16 November 2007
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the public, especially people living, working, or recreating on or near The Dalles Reservoir this winter about our upcoming The Dalles Reservoir white sturgeon fishery research activities.

2007 Tribal Fall Fishery Set to Begin
20 August 2007
Opening at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, August 22, the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Yakama tribes have authorized a commercial gill net fishery where Chinook, coho, steelhead, walleye, shad and carp will be available for purchase directly from tribal fishers. Sturgeon and sockeye are not available for sale at this time.
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Welcomes First Chairwoman among 2007-2008 officers
24 July 2007
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) will welcome its 2007-2008 officers this week, and for the first time in the commission's 30-year history, a female chair.
Let the Tribal Summer Fishery and Direct-to-Public Sales Begin!
15 June 2007
Beginning Saturday, June 16, 2007, tribal treaty fishers will begin the first and long awaited 2007 commercial sales of Columbia River Chinook salmon.
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Honors CRITFE Officer as Conservation Officer of the Year
24 May 2007
The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society named Sergeant Mitch Hicks, a patrol sergeant with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Enforcement as this year's Conservation Officer of the Year.
Ninth Circuit Says BPA Rates Fail To Recover True Fish and Wildlife Costs
3 May 2007
Late this afternoon the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals again ruled in favor of fish and wildlife restoration efforts in the Columbia River Basin. The three judge panel found that the wholesale power rates set by BPA ignored critical information indicating that a more substantial investment in salmon recovery would be required.
Celilo Falls 50th anniversary events set to begin
23 February 2007
March 10, 2007 will mark fifty years since the rising waters behind The Dalles Dam flooded Celilo Falls and its ancient tribal fishery. Celilo’s rich, tragic history yet hopeful future will be marked by a number of activities planned throughout the Columbia River Basin during the month of March.
9th Circuit Court orders BPA to keep salmon science center operating
24 January 2007
Recognizing that salmon and steelhead are "two the great resources of the Columbia River" the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the Fish Passage Center must remain operational and funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.
Yakama Nation wins Fish Passage Center case in 9th Circuit
24 January 2007
Science and salmon restoration won a major legal victory today when the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Fish Passage Center must remain operational and funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.
2006 Releases
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Launches Celilo Legacy Blog
14 November 2006
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) today unveiled a new online blog as part of its Celilo Legacy project. The blog will serve as a clearinghouse for public discourse, information, events, activities, and memorials in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the inundation of Celilo Falls on March 10, 1957.
Tribal Fall Fishery Begins Highlighted by Direct-to-Public Sales
21 August 2006
Tribal treaty fishers today began what is expected to be a strong month of commercial fishing for Columbia River Fall Chinook. This year’s fall Columbia River Indian salmon harvest will be highlighted by “over-the-bank” sales providing ample opportunities to the public to buy Chinook salmon directly from tribal fishers.
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Announces 2006-2007 Officers
20 July 2006
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission welcomed its 2006-2007 officers at its recent July commission meeting. Leslie Bill, representing the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, was elected as chairman of the four-tribe commission for a one-year term, replacing Robert Taylor (Nez Perce).
Columbia River Tribes complete world's largest wild salmon tagging project
9 June 2006
Tribal fisheries management crews working in the Columbia River's Hanford Reach this week completed annual work on the world's largest long-term tagging project of a wild salmon stock. A total of 205,145 Hanford Reach salmon, commonly referred to as upriver bright fall Chinook, were implanted with a laser-etched wire tag, 1.1 milimeters in length, between May 25th and June 4th.
CRITFC announces Spirit of the Salmon Fund Award Winners
8 May 2006
This year's Spirit of the Salmon awardees will be honored at the 6th annual Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum ("Salmon People”) gala on Saturday, May 13th. The gala celebration honors the work of CRITFC, its member tribes, and environmental conservation friends and partners.
Bonneville Power Administration Terminates Fish Passage Center
26 January 2006
Leaders of the Columbia River treaty-fishing tribes today roundly condemned a decision by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to vanquish a long-serving science center.

2005 Releases
Multi-Agency Sturgeon Survey to Begin in Bonneville Reservoir
1 December 2005
Snake River salmon get safest summer trip in years
12 September 2005
Nez Perce Tribe Heralds Court Ruling Continuing Summer Spill for Salmon
26 July 2005
Tribes, Plaintiffs Victorious in Columbia River Salmon Case
26 May 2005
Fifth Annual Wy·Kan·Ush·Pum Gala Slated to Be Largest Ever
4 May 2005
Tribes ask Oregon and Washington for Action on Sea Lion Problem
29 April 2005
Tribes ask Court to establish actions as migration season nears
21 March 2005

2004 Releases
Sturgeon survey set for The Dalles Reservoir
30 November 2004
Summit looks to better future for lamprey
30 November 2004
Federal salmon plan fails fish recovery
30 November 2004
Don't let your fish get away!
13 October 2004
Federal salmon plan abandons fish recovery
12 October 2004
Follow the Appaloosas to Salmon Festival at Oxbow Park
6 October 2004
Lewis & Clark Law alumnus collects legal honor
24 September 2004
Mmm! Mmm! The fall Columbia River Indian salmon harvest surges
17 September 2004
Federal salmon plan relies upon the “absurd and speculative”
9 September 2004
All aboard: The fall Columbia River Indian salmon harvest starts here!
24 August 2004
Keep on spilling, federal court orders BPA and the Corps
28 July 2004
Tribal fish restoration gets million-dollar boost
16 July 2004
Direct from tribal fishers: sockeye salmon!
29 June 2004
Tribal fish commission selects 2004-05 officers
28 June 2004
Got ice? Indian-caught summer Chinook salmon on the way
22 June 2004
Strike two for BPA's summer-spill proposal
10 June 2004
Proposed federal fish-hatchery policy a potential step forward
28 May 2004
Wipe your tears: more Indian-caught Chinook salmon available through May
10 May 2004
Fire up the grill: here comes Indian-caught Chinook salmon
03 May 2004
Works from top tribal artists on tap for salmon restoration
22 April 2004
BPA proposal means new problems for salmon
31 March 2004
Columbia River tribe targets ghost nets to help white sturgeon
22 March 2004
NW tribes unite to condemn federal plan to gut salmon protections
12 Feb 2004
2003 Releases
Tribes open fall commercial chinook gillnet season
26 August 2003
Funding shortfall jeopardizes U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Commission
18 August 2003
Tribes honor Spirit of the Salmon Award recipients during gala
26 July 2003
Tribes extend commercial summer chinook gillnet season
18 July 2003
Tribes open first commercial summer chinook gillnet season since 1965
8 July 2003
Biological Opinion still illegal despite judge's ruling, treaty tribes say
26 June 2003
Treaty tribes praise Columbia swimmer's arrival at last dam of journey
13 June 2003
Northwest governors should keep dam breaching on table, tribes say
5 June 2003
Larger-than-expected salmon returns open commercial sales
21 May 2003
Warm Springs Tribe's Patt chosen as CRITFC's executive director
16 May 2003
Ruling against NMFS BiOp revives dam breaching debate
13 May 2003
Tribes: EPA water temperature guide requires fine-tuning
29 April 2003
Columbia River treaty tribes open spring Chinook sales
24 April 2003
BPA won't honor fish, wildlife commitments despite rate increases
16 April 2003
Snake River's No. 8 rank on 'Endangered Rivers' list confirms fears
10 April 2003
Conciliation, tenacity defined Don Sampson's six-year tenure at CRITFC
21 March 2003
CRITFC's 2003 River Operations Plan seeks protection during drought
19 March 2003
National Congress of American Indians agrees with call for BPA audit
3 March 2003
Northwest tribes blast Bonneville for fish and wildlife funding cuts
13 February 2003

2002 Releases
Tribal fisheries co-managers to gather at symposium
11 December 2002
Columbia River salmon in double jeopardy, tribes say
11 December 2002
Tribal, state agencies to conduct sturgeon survey
27 November 2002
Tribes denounce BPA plan to cut fish, wildlife funds
21 November 2002
Study: Little difference between Methow River salmon
4 October 2002
Snake River fall chinook on road to recovery
10 September 2002
Columbia River treaty tribes open fall Chinook sales
26 August 2002
Hatchery salmon are contributing to natural spawning
12 August 2002
Columbia River treaty tribes open summer Chinook sales
2 July 2002
Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum? Fish commission asks, 'Why not?'
1 July 2002
Tribal fishers bring spring chinook harvest to the public.
23 April 2002
CRITFC Tribes Release 2002 Columbia River Operations Plan
5 March 2002

2001 Releases
CRITFC bringing Jammin' for Salmon to Portland - Aug. 4th and 5th
Date: 25 May 2001
Tribes urge salmon lifeline as barge malfunctions and hydropower sales go south; FERC to receive tribal motion today opposing irresponsible spill-swap
Date: 24 May 2001
Tribes appeal to BPA for life-saving spill as migration peak nears
Date: 11 May 2001
Tribes, states reach multi-year salmon protection and rebuilding accord for Columbia, Snake rivers
Date: 15 Feb 2001

Wana Chinook Tymoo magazine

Wana Chinook Tymoo means "Columbia River salmon stories" in Sahaptin, the common language family of CRITFC's member tribes. It is published to educate and inform the four tribaes and the general public of salmon news and projects in the Columbia River Basin.

Winter 2009 ( 4.2 MB)
Winter 2008 ( 4.8 MB)
Summer 2004 ( 3.1 MB)
Winter 2003 ( 4.2 MB)

 

 

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