Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

CRITFC member tribes continue their decades-long push to restore Pacific lamprey, a First Food central to tribal diet, culture and ceremony. A new story from Underscore News looks at how shifting water temperatures are affecting lamprey migration patterns.

Tribal fisheries programs have worked on lamprey restoration for more than 25 years, translocating tens of thousands of adult fish to historic habitat. Read more, and see the recently updated Tribal Pacific Lamprey Restoration Plan, republished this year with tribal approval, at the links below:

Changing Water Temperatures Impact Lamprey Migration Patterns - Underscore Native News Environmental changes like low snowfall and warming water temperatures are impacting the behaviors of Pacific lamprey, according to the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and the generations of Indigenous observations through traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) work with scientific data...

Riders lead a procession of veterans, tribal leaders and community members during the Memorial Horse Parade at the Nixyaawii Longhouse in Mission, Oregon, Friday, July 3, 2026.

The parade opened the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Fourth of July observance at the July Grounds, held annually.

The day’s program began at 9 a.m. with the Nixyaawii Veteran’s Memorial, featuring a posting of colors, tribal honor and flag song. The horse parade followed at 10 a.m., with participants completing three ceremonial circles before dismounting at the longhouse. This tradition honors ancestors and gives thanks to the Creator for the foods provided by the land, in keeping with the Laws of the Land, according to organizers and long time family cooks, Linda Jones, Lynnsue Jones and Brenda Shippentower. An 11 a.m. traditional Grand Entry and a community lunch, including an open microphone for guest comments, closed out the morning’s events.

The observance traces to a summer solstice tradition later moved to the Fourth of July, when tribal members from across the Umatilla Reservation historically gathered to pitch tepees in a circle around the July Grounds for days of dancing, horse racing and games. The encampment tradition faded in the early 1900s but was revived in 1992 by tribal committee members including Elizabeth Jones, Sheila Pond, Gordon Waters, Ernestine Waters, Chief Raymond Burke, Cecelia Bearchum, Janie Pond and Ron J. Pond.