WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Biden Administration announced a partnership with the Six Sovereigns to address salmon, climate, energy, and tribal justice crises in the Columbia River Basin on Dec. 14.
The Six Sovereigns, comprised of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Nez Perce Tribe, State of Oregon, and State of Washington, developed the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative, a comprehensive action plan.
The CBRI provides a path to solutions that consider all affected parties that rely on the Columbia River, while building on a foundation of sound science, according to a press release from Governor Jay Inslee’s Office.
The Biden Administration’s commitment to the CBRI illustrates the critical steps that will be taken together with the Six Sovereigns to address an extinction crisis among salmonids throughout the Columbia River Basin.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also released a statement on the historic agreement between the Biden Administration and the Six Sovereigns, saying:
“The Pacific Northwest’s iconic salmon and steelhead are essential to our ecological and economic wealth, and a sacred part of tribal ceremonial, spiritual, and subsistence practices since time immemorial.
“This successful and unprecedented partnership between the six sovereigns and the United States government has established a shared vision and pathway forward for restoration in both the lower and upper Columbia River Basin. Oregon looks forward to continued collaboration on a successful restoration.”
