Hereditary Chief of the Walla Walla Tribe Carl Sampson passed away November 15, 2017 in Pendleton, Oregon.

It is with heavy heart that CRITFC shares the news of the passing of Roy Sampsel, our first executive director and a dedicated advocate of tribes throughout the United States for nearly fifty years.

This year’s low number of steelhead returning to spawn are getting a helping hand from the Nez Perce Tribe and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission this week when fisheries biologists are releasing approximately 100 wild, B-run steelhead into the Snake River.

This spawning season, CRITFC and its member tribes will bolster the population of B-index Steelhead at Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River by an estimated 20%. This increase is thanks to CRITFC’s Steelhead Kelt Reconditioning program.

Nearly 100 people attended this year’s Columbia River Indian Fishers Expo in Hood River. It provided Indian fishers with information, resources, and training that will help them improve river safety, fish quality, and equipment maintenance.