Sharing Biological Information Across Generations: Parallels Between Indigenous Knowledge and Genetics for Fisheries Recovery in the Columbia River Basin
Abstract
Indigenous tribes of the interior Columbia River have developed a mutual relationship with native fishes since time immemorial. However, extensive disruption to the natural ecosystem has occurred as European settlement of North America extended westward to utilize abundant natural resources in ways that conflicted with millennia of indigenous protection. This anthropogenic disturbance has led to dramatic declines in native fish species that are central to tribal cultures, but efforts are underway to enable these fishes and the people that rely upon them to persist for future generations. Here, we describe how pairing indigenous knowledge and western science have been applied to assist with fisheries recovery in the Columbia River. Parallel understanding of information passed across generations is central to this effort, from tribal elders with their historical grasp of the natural ecosystem and fisheries, to molecular genetic approaches that track DNA that is passed from parents to offspring and subsequent generations. Examples are provided that illustrate how both indigenous knowledge and genetic tools have been applied to support fisheries recovery in the Columbia River Basin.
The writing below is in the native Sahaptin Language (Ičɨškíinki) so you the Salmon People will know what is written. Sahaptin is a shared language among the Columbia River Treaty Tribes. Translation was provided by Fred Hill, tribal member of the Confederated Tribe of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Click on the “Audio Abstract in Sahaptin Language” to hear Fred Hill read the Abstract below.
Čí Tímat iwá Ičɨškíinki, ku imáy Waykanšłáma pam ášukʷata anatún iwá tímani. Míimi, anakú iwačá, Nusuxyáy išápatutiya wat̓ičɨn Aniłaanmíyaw, ku isíniwiya, iˀáwɨna, ínaš áwapatatta Natítaytma anamún úyt pa wíyanawita íčɨn čná tičámpa. Ku kúšxi pamáyxi papánaknuwitaaš inmína Wáwnakšaš, Tamná ku Wak̓íšwit. Čí iwá Tamáanwitki ku Čínči łk̓ʷíkni aykúš iwáta. Áypam áw šúqʷaša čí múł walcáycas tamnanáxtna ana mišní náamɨn Natítaytma nawá čná tičámpa číˀaw kúuk. Yáanwa Natítaytma, nč̓í wánakni pawačá šapášuqʷani, pawá Waykánašpamłaamɨn, ku túnx núsux waníči pa naknuwíya tanánma. Awkú míimi anamún šuyápuma pa wíyanawiya čná tičámpa, áw ƛáwx tún pašapátunxwiya, pawíwɨnpɨn tičám ƛáwx máan ku pa wítmiwna papák̓ɨnkta nč̓í wánana pák̓ɨnktpamaki, ániyaytaš xtúwit láxayxitpamayaw ƛáawx máan tičámpa. Anakú mún pa pátukaya łak kutkutpama ƛáawx máan, páyu pašapátatiiya nč̓í wánana anatún mɨláa pa áˀk̓aatɨnxana nč̓í wánapa. Ku kúšxi palaláay núsux paklíwiya kʷanáa ay sapaxaluut̓áwaski. Ku múłsim taš nawačá núsux nč̓í wánapa aymún. Anamún papátukɨn nč̓í pák̓ɨnktpama nč̓í wánapa, awkú čawtáy áwača tunínitaš waykáanašna šapáˀituxt áyataš. k̓ʷáyxʷɨšt wíwača úyt anamún palaláay šuyapuma pa táwyanayka ƛáawx máan nč̓í wanapáynpa. Awkú waykánaš pawá natitaytmí áwtni tqʷátat, ku aykúš iwá áxway čiˀaw kúuk. Awkú číˀaw kúuk áwa łakníin šapátkutkut šapáˀituxtaš wakáanašna namí wána ku wálapa. Iwá ƛáawxmamí ku miyanašmíyay. Awkú napuˀin Tanán ku šuyápuma napáwiyalaxsimiša šapášuk̓ʷatna áwapaatatˀay wakánašna. Ku ƛáawx tún waykanašmí wiyáxayxtna, pa ítitamayša, anakuˀúš pa táaˀanxa DNA-ki. Awpa aˀšuk̓ʷaša nusuxmí ttáwaxt atwanatas ̌ku kúšxi panmiin spáytit DNA-ki. Awkú namí nč̓íˀnč̓imaamɨn míimi pašúkwana šapánaknuwit waykáanaš ku k̓súyasna, Awkú čikúuk šapásukʷatki pa kútkutnayša núsux ku k̓asúyas šapáˀituxtaš. Ku čí ititámat kutkut iˀísiqʷaša anamayní CRITFC ku Nč̓í Wanałáma Tanáma pa kútkutnayša.
Authors
Citation
Five Crows, J., A. DeCoteau, J.E. Hess, D. Hatch, and Shawn Narum. 2023. Sharing biological information across generations: parallels between indigenous knowledge and genetics for fisheries recovery in the Columbia River Basin. Molecular Ecology Resources. Online at https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13815.