We are stewards over the land & water
For decades, the Colville Tribes have led the way in investigating industrial pollution in the Upper Columbia River–specifically, the section of river between Grand Coulee Dam and the US-Canadaborder.
We are working together with the federal government (the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior), the state Department of Ecology, and the Spokane Tribe to measure the impact of pollution on the land, water, fish, and wildlife.
Part of the investigation today is studying all the ways that Colville people use resources from the river and nearby uplands, and learning about which uses have and have not been affected by industrial metals pollution.
Grand Coulee Dam was built and blocked the salmon, causing deep changes in the river and how people used it. We are interested in hearing about whether and how you and your family used the river and its resources after the dam went in.
Did you or your family fish in the reservoir, or up near Onion Creek, Northport, and the border? What kinds of fish were you catching? How else were the river and beach esused–forgathering plants, swimming, or sweats? Has your use, or your family’s use, changed over the last 30-40 years (since about 1980)? If yes, how and why has it changed?
We are interested in hearing your point of view – what have you heard about industrial pollution in the river? Is today your first time hearing aboutit? If not, do you remember when and where you first heard about it? Where do you get your information about the river?