Salmon Wars Podcast

We’re sharing an episode from another OPB podcast: “Salmon Wars.” It tells the story of salmon in the Northwest in a way you haven’t heard before — through the voices of one Yakama Nation family who have been fighting for salmon for generations.

We hear the voices of tribal elders who remember Celilo Falls before The Dalles Dam silenced this sacred fishing spot.

Salmon hatcheries set up by the federal government prioritized ocean fishermen over river tribes and created genetically inferior fish. In this final episode, we visit a tribal hatchery to see how they’re doing things differently.

Salmon have been on the decline for more than 100 years. The federal government knows why. It knows who killed the salmon, and how. But for decades it’s been telling a tale of progress, and obscuring the ugliest truth.

Salmon used to be plentiful, and they’ve been a staple of tribal diets for centuries. In this episode, we examine what the decline of salmon has meant for Columbia River tribes.

You heard from Randy Settler’s cousin, LiaDonna Lopez Whitefoot, in the most recent episode of "Salmon Wars." In this bonus episode, we’re bringing you more of her memories of the fish wars and of Randy’s mom, Mary, in particular.

During the 1960s and beyond, Native activists fought back against state and federal restrictions on their fishing rights — a period known as the “fish wars.” They held “fish ins” and fought for their rights in court.

To understand the struggles over salmon, we have to go back to 1855. The “Salmon Wars” podcast tells the story of salmon in the Northwest through the voices of one Yakama Nation family.

“Salmon Wars” tells the story of salmon in the Northwest in a way you haven’t heard before — through the voices of one Yakama Nation family who have been fighting for salmon for generations. In episode 1, host Tony Schick introduces us to Randy Settler and his family.

We take a deep dive into the hidden history, investigate who’s to blame for the salmon vanishing, and explore what can be done before it’s too late.