The journey toward breaching the four Lower Snake River Dams in the Columbia Basin has become a focal point in our collective efforts to restore salmon populations, honor Indigenous sovereignty and revive our cultural heritage.
The dams — Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite — have had a significant impact on salmon runs and the Nez Perce way of life, as well as other Pacific Northwest tribes. These dams, built decades ago for various purposes, have disrupted the natural migration patterns of salmon, leading to a decline in their populations and threatening the cultural practices and traditions that are deeply intertwined with these magnificent fish.
