![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The 1800s saw not only the exploitation of white sturgeon for caviar, but intense conflicts over Native sovereignty and fishing rights. Peter Whiteley, curator of North American Ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History, explained the ethic of landscape and species management in Native communities to GlacierHub: “You occupy this particular space and you are coequal with the other species that occupy that space, and it’s your job as a human to manage environmental relations in an ethical and productive way.” Through a decade of diligent and careful work Yakama Nations Fisheries has done just that, addressing a legacy of environmental degradation while building a healthier future for fish and people alike. As a traditionally significant source of food, the relationship between the Yakama people and white sturgeon has always been one of reciprocity. They demonstrate remarkable resemblance to their ancestors, who dwelled in river bottoms more than 100 million years ago. Some individuals have also reached an age of 100 years. The largest freshwater fish found in North America, white sturgeon are reported to grow up to 20 feet in length and can weigh almost a ton. Others would fish for white sturgeon, among other species of fish abundant in the basin. ![]() To sustain their communities, some tribal members would seek game and edible plants in valleys and on the mountainside. Throughout their history they utilized the entire landscape, from the Cascade Mountains to the riparian lowlands. Source: Yakama Nation Fisheriesįor millennia, the Yakama people have resided in central Washington’s plateau and the Columbia River Basin. White sturgeon grow to an average length of 7 feet, and can live for over 100 years. Juvenile sturgeon are raised for release by Yakama Nation Fisheries. ![]()
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