The future. Chief Caleen Sisks son shows his support for salmon restoration. | Photo: Christopher McLeod
In a time long ago, when the waters flowed free, my ancestors swam home to bring life to me. There were thousands, no hundreds of thousands of my brothers and sisters. We swam in the cold, clear, flowing water rushing down to the sea. There we would grow and thrive. Then winter was coming and it was time to go home, back to the streams where life began, to start the cycle over again. Such peace and harmony, the way things should be, the cycle of life that renews all things.
That time is long lost now. The builders came. They took away our streams, our homes, and our nurseries. Now we are few, struggling to survive. With each passing cycle our numbers grow fewer. One day soon, we will be no more. The cycle of life will have ended.
We listen when salmon speak. They were here first. For millennia, we shared the middle waters of Mt. Shasta, the Winnemem, now the McCloud River, until Shasta Dam flooded us all out in the 1940s. Now the people and the salmon are struggling to reclaim and restore our home lands and waters.
--
--
The winter-run Chinook salmon of California once numbered in the hundreds of thousands each year. Stories were common of rivers so thick with salmon that you could walk across their backs to the other side. Livingston Stone, a fish culturist and the assistant director of the U.S. Fish Commission in the 1800s wrote that during a 40-day period on our river in 1878, We caught and examined, one by one, nearly 200,000 salmon. We took and impregnated at least 14,000,000 eggs.
Today, the winter-run salmon are listed as endangered under both the federal and California Endangered Species Acts (ESA). The spring-run salmon are listed as endangered under the state ESA and threatened under the federal ESA.
More on the winnemem wintu
A Native Plan to Restore the Winter Run Chinook
In 2014, only five percent of the winter-run Chinook juveniles survived to return, and in 2015 less than three percent. These troubling numbers are largely attributed to water temperatures being too high in the river, with not enough cold water released from Shasta reservoir to combat the higher temperatures.
When salmon speak, do you listen? They have been telling us for years that what is happening around us in the name of progress is not progress at all, but the beginning of the end of the cycle of life. They have been telling us that the dams that take away their homes are slowly killing them - driving them to the point of extinction. They have been telling us that the waters are no longer cold and clear as they die in the summer heat. They have been telling us that the trees are disappearing and the erosion of the earth is filling our rivers and streams. They have been telling us!
Watch Tending the Wilds segment on salmon, Keeping the River
We hear you, say the Winnemem Wintu. We are a spiritual people. We believe in a Creator who gave life and breath to all things. We believe we were brought forth from a sacred spring on Mt. Shasta, and as newly-created human beings we were helpless, couldn't speak, and were insignificant and vulnerable. But, you, Salmon, the Landata Nur, took pity on us and gave us your voice. In return we promised to always speak for you and care for you. Side-by-side, the Winnemem and the Nur have depended on each other for thousands of years - the Winnemem speaking, caring for and trying to protect the salmon, and the Nur giving of themselves to the Winnemem to provide nourishment throughout the year. Ceremonies, songs, dances and prayers honoring the relationship between the salmon and the Winnemem Wintu are intricately woven into the fabric of Winnemem Wintu culture and spirituality.
More from tending the wild
A Native Plan to Restore the Winter Run Chinook
To Protect Native Culture, Bring Back the Salmon
Heres How Native Knowledge Could Help Save Salmon
1 of 2
next
The name Winnemem Wintu is derived from what we call the McCloud River, the Winnemem's traditional homeland - Winnemem meaning Middle Water and Wintu meaning People. We are the Middle Water People.
When the builders came, they started with a fish hatchery on the McCloud River. Our Winnemem ancestors held a war dance in response to this threat to their land and life. Eventually, the Winnemem helped with the hatchery; they built it and worked there because they knew the salmon. They could see that the in a way they were helping the salmon. Eventually the hatchery faded away. But then, the bulldozers came to tear down the Winnemem houses to make room for the water that would soon come. The dam was on its way.
When Shasta Dam was completed in 1945, the resulting reservoir flooded over 90 percent of the Winnemem's cultural, spiritual, village and burial sites along the Sacramento, McCloud, and Pit Rivers. No fish bypass was built so the 602-foot dam blocked the salmon from migrating back to their traditional spawning grounds in the Upper Sacramento and McCloud River watersheds. The loss of homeland and salmon has been devastating to the Winnemem Wintu, and the loss of traditional spawning grounds has begun the bell tolling for the salmon.
In efforts to bring attention to the plight of the salmon and the Winnemem Wintu, the tribe has twice held War Dances at Shasta Dam, once in 2004 and again in 2014, to combat the proposed enlargement of the dam and to let the salmon know that they are not forgotten. We are still speaking for them, remembering them, praying for salmon to flourish.
The Winnemem have submitted a proposal to the Bureau of Reclamation for a swim-way around Shasta Dam so the salmon can once again return to their ancient spawning grounds. So far, the Bureau of Reclamation has rejected our proposal.
Heading upstream in canoes to advocate for salmo
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
03/05/2024
Broadcast media systems integrator BeckTV and Lawo worked together on a large-scale AES67 build of radio control rooms at KPBS, San Diego's NPR and PBS memb...
03/05/2024
Raleigh, NC, April 12, 2024 SmallHD announces PageOS 6, a powerful software update free for owners of SmallHD monitors, featuring increased functionality, exp...
03/05/2024
SmallHD announces the Quantum 32 a new 31.5 OLED monitor designed to provide reference HDR/SDR images for post-production final color grading, as well as cri...
03/05/2024
By 2032, the esports market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion, bolstered by a global player count and fan following that both continue to climb. The 2023 Lea...
03/05/2024
Amagi, the global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced that the 11th edition of the Amagi Global FAST Rep...
03/05/2024
Riedel Communications today announced that Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is relying on a media and intercom network based on Riedel technology for the renewal of...
03/05/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
03/05/2024
Media technology innovator Limecraft will exhibit the latest updates to its online platform on stand G79 at the 15-16 May 2024 Media Production & Technology Sho...
03/05/2024
Audio interface specialist Prism Sound is partnering with console manufacturer Solid State Logic, professional monitor manufacturer PMC and acoustic panel and d...
03/05/2024
Intinor, Sweden's leading developer of products and solutions for high-quality video over the internet, is set to join forces with its UK partner Zest Techn...
03/05/2024
NAKIVO Inc., a fast-growing software company dedicated to protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments, announced its Q1 2024 financial results to...
03/05/2024
Hiltron Communications announces an addition to its range of satellite communication products and systems: a field-upgradable motorisation kit specifically desi...
03/05/2024
Visit LiveU at Stand D30
With this year an exceptional one for major sporting events alongside multiple, key elections, the power and flexibility of LiveU'...
03/05/2024
Agile Content, the leader in the development of technology and solutions for the provision of television services over the Internet, announces Koldo Unanue as i...
03/05/2024
Eight co-signers representing streaming services, pay TV operators and public interest groups have sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging their Committee...
03/05/2024
BOSTON Brightcove has announced that it has implemented Amazon Q Business, a new generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS)....
03/05/2024
NEW YORK CBS has declared that it will finish the 2023-24 season as Americas Most-Watched Network in primetime for the 16th consecutive season....
03/05/2024
A new survey indicates that U.S. businesses and consumers had an overall positive attitude towards their technology spending plans in the first quarter of 2024,...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo Global Management have sent an offer letter to Paramount Global's board of directors making an $26 billion all cash offer for Paramount Glob...
03/05/2024
EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Charlie Cubbon chief operating officer (COO) and Jamie Hindhaugh regional CEO for the U.K., U.S., Australia and the Middle Eas...
03/05/2024
Final 2024 Season Games to Air Saturdays on WRAL at 10:30am in May, Championship on June 1
Taping for the final episodes of the 2024 season of WRAL-TV's Br...
03/05/2024
Estrella MediaCo said it is expanding its connected TV portfolio by launching three new channels with Curiosity that will first appear on Samsung TV Plus....
The future. Chief Caleen Sisks son shows his support for salmon restoration. | Photo: Christopher McLeod 
