G.O.A.T. of the week - THE LARGEST DAM REMOVAL IN US HISTORY BEGINS (NPR)

 “News stories take millions of Americans, in all walks of life, to the political and military battlefields of the world” (Graber and Dunaway) 

In my own personal opinion, there is nothing more political than the perpetually frayed relationship between the United States and Native American people especially considering that the founding of our democracy came at the expense of illegal land grabs, broken promises, and the genocide of indigenous communities over hundreds of years. After having taken AMST 3720 (or Introduction to Native American Studies) last semester, I learned all about the history of the United States seen from an American Indian perspective. While at times the subject matter was overwhelming, emotional, and particularly gruesome, it offered a true account of the history we miss in our current educational system today. As it is common knowledge that “history is written by the victors,” this class was essential in correcting the misinformation and stereotypes surrounding the common American perspective in how we judge, analyze, and label these people in modern society nowadays. The single most important takeaway is that they are still here, and they managed to survive in the face of insurmountable odds.  

(The book used to teach AMST 3720)

As reported by WMC, “in 2018, the First Nations Development Institute conducted extensive documentation and research to uncover dominant stories and narratives about indigenous people in the United States and how that in turn affected public policy" (Research Reveals Media Role in Stereotypes About Native Americans - Women’s Media Center). The study discovered the complete lack of representation in the media, in the education system, and in pop culture, thereby erasing their existence from American consciousness. Furthermore, what little the media does choose to represent, is strongly biased toward the portrayal of drug addicts, casino junkies, and people dependent on “free money” government handouts. The inauthenticity of this representation colors the attitudes of members of Congress, and even the court system where they are fighting for their rights to be seen, heard, and taken seriously. It is fundamental to understand this so we can learn from our past mistakes and BE BETTER! 

(Chinook Salmon: source: UW News)

I am sending out a Hip-Hip-Hooray! to All Things Considered on NPR for the initial reporting of this issue relating to the Yurok tribe and their historic win for dam removal on the Klamath River. The tribe has been advocating and fighting for dam removal for thirty years and this is seen as a historic and life-changing win for the survival of their people and the salmon they rely on. The hydroelectric dams constructed in northern California and southern Oregon have blocked salmon habitats and contributed to poor water quality over the years. As NPR notes, “the Klamath River was once the third largest salmon producer on the West Coast, but a major die-off of Chinook Salmon in 2002, of 34,000 – 78,000 fish, catalyzed increased activism to have the dams removed" (Erik Neumann - Jefferson Public Radio).  

(Image of what will be the deconstructed dam: source: NPR)

The most important thing to understand is that the relationship that Native peoples have with the land is the most meaningful of all. It is a direct connection to their ancestors and to their identities. Land is sacred. Period. End of sentence. While it will not be an overnight immediate fix to saving the salmon populations, removing the barriers will help them re-establish their populations over 30 years, thereby giving hope to the Yurok tribe in maintaining their water rights and identity.  

This success will no doubt start a chain reaction of having other dams removed in similar native communities. While the issue of making reparations regarding land rights are part of the national conversation surrounding Native American rights, restoring their access to the river is a fundamental positive step in the right direction. Even though nothing is going to be a complete band-aid to how the government has behaved toward tribal relations, this gives hope that we may be learning from past mistakes and aiming to at least have them included in the conversations that they deserve to be included in. 

The original article was published by NPR, but legacy news media quickly picked it up and it was circulated by other widely known news organizations such as Reuters, The Washington Post, FOX, ABC, and AP news, thereby giving a voice to the invisible and voiceless.  

“The Earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the Earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” - Chief Seattle 

Sources:

Erik Neumann - Jefferson Public Radio. “No Turning Back: The Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History Begins.” NPR, 13 Jan. 2024, www.npr.org/2024/01/12/1224494403/klamath-river-begins-to-flow-again-with-dam-removal-project. 

Graber, Doris Appel, and Johanna Dunaway. Mass Media and American Politics. CQ Press, 2022. 

Ma, Michelle. “Largest Chinook Salmon Disappearing From West Coast.” UW News, 27 Feb. 2018, www.washington.edu/news/2018/02/27/largest-chinook-salmon-disappearing-from-west-coast. 

Research Reveals Media Role in Stereotypes About Native Americans - Women’s Media Center. womensmediacenter.com/news-features/research-reveals-media-role-in-stereotypes-about-native-americans.