Tribal Fishing Traditions

Interested in learning more about tribal fishing traditions and regional salmon runs? Join us for Fall Salmon Viewing with Kat Brigham; of the Brigham Fish Market, founding member of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and tribal leader with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation; on Saturday, Oct. 8, 9:45 - 11:15 am, at Eagle Creek in Cascade Locks, OR. This event is a part of our Love Your Columbia Event Series, Space is limited, register here.

Below is an article we originally published in our spring newsletter about the Brigham Family's Fish Market in Cascade Locks.

 

Meet the Brighams: Tribal Fishing Traditions

By Elizabeth C. Terhaar, Communications Director

The Brigham Fish Market in Cascade Locks may have just celebrated its two-year anniversary, but the business began many years ago.

“My husband and his family fished at Celilo Falls when they were very young,” said Kathryn “Kat” Brigham. “When Celilo was inundated in 1957, they moved to Rowena, west of The Dalles, Oregon, where they lived and continued to fish. We taught our daughters and their kids how to fish and how to take care of the fish.”

Kat is the matriarch of the Brigham family and a respected leader from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Growing up, she frequented fishery meetings with her grandfather, tribal leader Sam Kash Kash, inspiring her long-standing fight for treaty fishing rights. Today, Kat’s daughters Kim and Terrie carry on the Brigham name at the family-owned and operated Brigham Fish Market.

The Brigham Sisters’ Days Start at 6am, Balancing Time on the River and at the Market
The Brigham’s operation encompasses all aspects of the tribal fishery business—from harvesting to processing to selling fish to the public. Owner and fisher Kim Brigham Campbell runs the fish market while simultaneously dip netting at nine scaffold platforms near Cascade Locks. She checks the scaffoldings at least three times daily; harvesting, icing, and dressing fish. She also tends to customers at the market. Kim’s older sister, Terrie Brigham, manages the market and also runs boats and crews with her father, Robert Brigham, on the Columbia. The fall is the busiest season, when Terrie runs one of three boats with her uncle and father.

Women in the Tribal Fishing Industry
The Brigham daughters, along with their mother and aunt, were one of the first all-female fishing crews on the Columbia River. “It’s not exactly traditional but it’s something that we taught all our girls, is that this is part of our cultural heritage and we’re going to continue to do it, and it’s the same with our grandchildren, they’re learning as well,” said Kat. Kim’s experience: “I’d say there’s a majority of men who fish, but there’s a lot more women out there now too—things are changing.”

What’s your favorite part about fishing on the Columbia River?
Terrie shared, “I like being on the water, I really do, and it is even better with my Dad, it is a lot of fun. He always says, ‘If you can’t have fun out here, then you shouldn’t be out here.’ We’re always working hard but we enjoy it for sure.”

Kat added that fishing brings the family closer, with traditions passed down from generation to generation. They share photographs of children and grandchildren learning how to fish (some as young as five and six years old) and discuss celebrating the first salmon catch of the season with a blessing and meal together. “Even if it’s just one tiny fish, we each get one bite of it,” said Kim, laughing with her mother and sister.

“We’re thankful that as the fish come back because it means we’ve got to start getting ready for the season,” explained Kat. But we’re also giving thanks for the fish coming back and we’re sharing it with our family and our friends. It is part of our treaty rights, it is part of our heritage and our culture.”

The market sells fresh and smoked fish, primarily caught by the Brighams, including sturgeon, sockeye, and Chinook salmon from the Columbia, Alaska-caught sockeye and halibut, and salmon dip and chowder. Brigham Fish Market is located at 681 WaNaPa Street in Cascade Locks, Oregon. For more information, go to brighamfish.com.

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Save the Date(s): Love Your Columbia Events

This year we launched the Love Your Columbia Event Series to tell the river’s story and bring cutting edge water science to river communities. Watch salmon migrate while listening to a renowned tribal leader share her perspective on salmon recovery. Hear from three leading scientists on how pharmaceuticals and toxic pollution impact people, salmon, and wildlife. All events are free, but space is limited for many. Reserve a spot today.

Love Your Columbia Event Series:

• Columbia Under The Microscope – 10/5 Portland; & 11/10 Astoria: Straight from the field and lab, hear three scientists present cutting edge research on pollutants and pharmaceuticals in the Columbia River on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, doors open at 5:30 pm, presentation 6:00 - 7:00 pm, at the Lucky Lab on Hawthorne, in Portland, OR, more information; and Thursday, Nov. 10, from 6:00 - 7:00 pm, at the Blue Scorcher Bakery, in Astoria, OR, more information.

• Fall Salmon Viewing on Eagle Creek – 10/8 Cascade Locks: Saturday, Oct. 8, 9:45 - 11:15 am, at Eagle Creek in Cascade Locks, OR. Space is limited, register here.
  
• Hot Water, Fish Kills, & the Future of Salmon – 12/1 Vancouver: Why did hundreds of thousands of salmon die on the Columbia last year? We’ll probe the root causes of heat-driven salmon kills and discuss strategies to protect strong salmon runs. Thursday, December 1, Feral Public House in 1109 Washington St., Vancouver, WA (doors 5:30 pm, presentation 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm). Minors welcome. More information.