How A First Nations People Got their Salmon Back--With Help from the Maori

The Winnemem Wintu ("middle river people") are one of the nine sub-groups or bands of the Wintu tribe, whose traditional lands were along the lower McCloud River, above the Shasta Dam, and including Mount Shasta. Modern day Redding, California, is the the nearest large city. Although the Winnemem Wintu traditional language is recognized as the North Eastern dialect of the Northern Wintun, a member of the Wintuan language group, itself a member of the much larger Penuatian language family, they are not currently listed by the U. S. Federal agencies as a Federally recognized tribe. Of the original nine bands of Wintu, today only three survive, and their traditional lands and sacred places are in constant danger of more flooding from California's Shasta dam. Although less than a hundred and fifty years ago there were once more than 14,000 Winnemem Wintu, today the tribe numbers a mere 125. As as a nation, they reject tribally-owned casinos gaming as a violation of their traditional ways and cultural sacred truths.

The creation of Shasta Dam diverted the salmon from the McCloud river; this not only meant the loss of a sacred animal, deeply tied to the cultural beliefs of the Winnemem Wintu, it meant the loss of their major source of protein. But in 2005, a New Zealand scientist contacted the Winnemem Wintu tribe via email, stating "We have your salmon." The New Zealand salmon, now thriving there, were originally spawned in the late 19th century from eggs grown and harvested at the Baird Station Hatchery on the McCloud River.

With hope in their hearts, the Winnemem Wintu began to raise funds from tribal members, chilli feasts, and donations from Facebook members, so 30 members could fly to New Zealand for two weeks to negotiate salmon egg donations from the Maori. After a three-day ceremony with both cultures honoring their traditions, arrangements are now afoot. Because the Shasta Dam still prevents chinook salmon from swimming upstream to the McCloud, salmon hatched in the river would have to be carefully trapped and transported around the dam. The Winneman have proposed constructing a natural channel from the Sacramento River to the Shasta reservoir, and thus salmon would be guided back to the McCloud. The plan requires support and some assistance from the state of California, since part of the channel would be on state lands. Talks between tribal authorities and state officials have begun. You can read more here.