CRITFC Commissioners

Chair Ashton Picard (Nez Perce) takes the oath of office from the outgoing CRITFC Chair Jeremy Yakala (Yakama) at the July 2025 commission meeting in Lewiston, Idaho.

Picard is the son of Andre Picard, Sr and Leanna Lewis. His paternal grandparents are Eugene Picard and Theodora Allman and his maternal grandparents are Harry Lewis and Etta Conner.

Picard was elected to the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee (NPTEC) in 2023 and currently serves as chair of the tribe’s Natural Resource Subcommittee. He was appointed to serve as a CRITFC commissioner shortly after being elected to NPTEC.

Though only a few years of experience in tribal and CRITFC leadership, his relationship with Xuyéełp (who-YEAH-thl-p — the Nez Perce name for the Columbia River) stems back to his childhood. Picard began fishing the Columbia as a young man with his father and uncles. He credits the experiences he had on those fishing trips for not only building a lasting connection and relationship with the river.

“One of my main focuses as chair is to get as much education and knowledge out to our communities about salmon and other species that are critical to our ecosystems,” Picard said, “We’re living in a time where information can be skewed or lost. It’s important that the full picture is shared and not just what’s convenient or popular.”

Vice-chair Ryan Smith, Warm Springs

Secretary Corinne Sams, Umatilla

Corinne ‘Cor’ Sams (Cayuse/Walla Walla/Cocopah) is an elected Board of Trustees Member for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). She began her profession in youth advocacy working as a Title 6 Indian Education Coordinator in the Pendleton Public School System. Later went on to work for Portland State University as an Assistant Data Analyst in the Department of Social Work. This experience set the stage for Corinne to embrace her role within tribal government, social and public service in the tribal community as an advocate for the CTUIR and surrounding communities.

Corinne is currently the Vice Chair of the CTUIR Law and Order Committee and the Chair of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. In addition to her responsibilities as a Tribal Leader, Corinne is one of the advisors for the CTUIR Youth Council, Vice President of the Nixyaawii Chamber of Commerce, and Northwest Health Foundation Civic Health Board of Directors. She is a certified Tai Chi instructor for better balance which in turn she has shared on and off the reservation through gentle instruction, and also is a certified Life Coach.

Corinne is honored to serve as a CRITFC Commissioner. She is vigilant in protecting, and enhancing Treaty reserved rights. She is committed to restoring, and protecting Salmon in the Columbia Basin. Corinne has fished most of her life on the Columbia River and tributaries, mainly scaffold/hook and line. As a fisher and commissioner, Corinne wants to ensure our resources, ecosystem, habitat, and aquatic species are maintained for the next 7 generations.

Her interests include, spending time with her partner and children, coaching all sports, hunting, camping, fishing, gathering first foods, and anything and everything to do with tribal people.

Treasurer Jeremy Takala, Yakama

Jeremy Takala, Indian name Pax’una’shut and is from the Kahmiltpah Band (Rock Creek) of the Columbia River area. He is a member of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council, serving his second term. He sits on the Fish and Wildlife Committee, Legislative Committee, Law and Order Committee, and the Veterans Committee. In addition to serving as the Chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Takala also serves as a representative to the National Congress of American Indians and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. He is also a member of the Seattle Indigenous Advisory Council. Prior to being elected to the Tribal Council, he worked for Yakama Nation Fisheries for 12 years doing salmon and habitat work on the Klickitat River.

Takala is committed to managing fishery resources through the inherent rights that were affirmed through treaties between sovereign tribal nations and the United States. These legal contracts serve as guiding principles to help protect the natural foods, streams, and animals, as well as maintaining a stewardship role for future generations to understand and protect.

Takala represented the Yakama Nation on the Columbia Basin River Initiative, a 10-year commitment between the four CRITFC member tribes and the states of Oregon and Washington. The initiative strives for healthy and abundant levels of salmon and native species in the Pacific Northwest. The Biden-Harris Administration recently signed on to the initiative in April 2024. Takala also helped secure funding to assist the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department address the fentanyl crisis on and around the Yakama Reservation.

Takala grew up in Goldendale, Washington and was brought up as a drummer and provider for the Rock Creek Longhouse. He acknowledges his traditional teachers which include a long list of family members and tribal elders. He and his children are very much involved in the community, in the longhouse and social activities/events.

Yakama

Jeremy Takala (CRITFC Tresurer), Terry Heemsah Sr, Terry Goudy-Rambler, Caseymac Wallahee, Yvonne Colfax, Bronsco Jim Jr, Virgil Lewis, Sr, Wilbur Slockish Jr, William Yallup Jr