On October 31st, 2024, Dr. Brittani Orona (Hupa), a Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Santa Cruz, presented her ongoing research on the Klamath River Basin and the traditional use of fish weirs.
This took place on Kumeyaay land at San Diego State University's Donald P. Shiley Bioscience Center and was co-sponsored by SDSU’s American Indian Studies Department and the Collaborative of Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship (CNNCTS).
Vanessa Hernandez, a new member of the CNNCTS team, attended the event and shares her insights below.
During my first week joining the CNNCTS team, I had the pleasure of attending Dr. Brittani Orona’s impactful research presentation titled “Klamath River Fish-Weirs Toward a Decolonial Future.” In her talk, Dr. Brittani Orona (Hupa) shared her background as a Hupa scholar and her vast knowledge of dams; specifically as they pertain to her ongoing research of the lower Klamath River. Attendees followed along as she spoke on a pre-to-postcolonial background of Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk territories, the establishment and effects of permanent dams along the Klamath River within these territories, and the ongoing advocacy against permanent dams.
Another key component of Dr. Orona’s presentation was the role of fish weirs; temporary dams constructed and dismantled as part of a Hupa ceremonial practice. During these ceremonies, fish weirs are set up in 10 days, are in use for 10 days, and are carefully removed and returned to the land. This tradition supports the fish run along the Klamath River and reinforces the Hupa people’s connection to the river. Prior to this event, I had not known about Indigenous practices with temporary dams, so learning about fish weirs piqued my curiosity about impacts on the ecosystem by temporary versus permanent dams.
Dr. Orona explained that, for decades, Native communities along the river were not allowed to practice this ceremony due to colonial imposition. Instead, the subsequent and ongoing establishment of permanent dams negatively impacted fish runs and a colonial narrative was pushed that local Tribal communities were to blame for the lack of fish. To combat this false narrative, Native peoples protested and continue to protest to remove the dams and revitalize ceremonies with the river to restore the health of the ecosystem.
She also noted that efforts to oppose the permanent dams have seen incredible success, with the recent removal of four upper Klamath River dams as of August 2024! Their removal marks the largest dam removal in US history thus far. However, protests against dams are ongoing, as a multitude of obsolete permanent dams remain in place across the so-called United States. Dr. Orona expressed hope in witnessing the dam removals, noting that it shows how 'the river can heal itself.’ Additionally, in 2015, the implementation of an experimental fish weir successfully demonstrated positive fish interactions and supported fish health. Through their efforts, Native communities continue working towards the restoration of ceremony, the returned practice of fish weirs, and access to ceremonial areas to maintain the health of the environment and their traditions. It remains crucial that we support Indigenous efforts such as the Hupa, Yurok, and Karuks’ for ecological restoration and cultural preservation across Turtle Island and beyond.
Thank you to our special guest Dr. Brittani Orona for coming to speak with the community, and to the SDSU American Indian Studies Department for co-hosting this event!
Resource Links:
Learn more about the Collaborative for Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship (CNNCTS) at cnncts.org.