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CRITFC Staff

Donella Miller

dmiller@critfc.org
(503) 731-1301

Employee since: 2023

Tribal Affiliation: Yakama

Fishery Science Department Manager

Fishery Science Department
Portland Main Office

Biography

I am an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation as well as a descendent of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Blackfeet Nation. I have over 29 years of experience in Columbia River fisheries resource management and prior to coming to CRITFC, I was the Yakama Nation Fisheries (YNF) Program Manager. I have also served as the YNF White Sturgeon Project Manager and have served with the YNF Program in various other capacities starting as a fish tech working on numerous projects throughout the basin.

I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries Resources from the University of Idaho. During my time in Idaho, I worked at the University of Idaho Aquaculture Research Institute Genetics Lab and the Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station. I also trained at several White Sturgeon production facilities including the Kootenai Tribal Sturgeon Hatchery and the Upper-Columbia Sturgeon Program. During my time at U of I, I also worked part-time within the YNF administrative structure which provided invaluable experience in navigating the administrative processes essential to both project and program management.

Growing up on the Yakama Reservation I learned the importance of maintaining my culture while recognizing the need to gain an education to serve my people and protect our tribal way of life, first foods and natural resources that are the heart of the Yakama People. These values were instilled in me at a young age by my grandparents and tribal elders and have led me to value the knowledge of my ancestors. This balance of Yakama cultural knowledge and values paired with a non-Native Western perspective enables me to best manage our resources for future generations

Education

  • B.S, Fisheries Resources, University of Idaho, 2008

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