For generations, a series of hydroelectric dams held the Klamath River in a chokehold. In 2002, the devastating “fish-kill” marked a turning point for the Klamath River, when more than 30,000 salmon died from disease—an ecological disaster fueled by an above-average salmon run, drought, and the diversion of water for agriculture. The dams not only disrupted once-abundant salmon runs, but they also disconnected Indigenous communities from the river they have relied on for millennia.
Last year, the Klamath River became the largest dam removal and water restoration project in history, dismantling four dams—marking a major victory for the health of the river and the people who have called it home since time immemorial. All of this is thanks to more than a century of Indigenous-led advocacy and resistance, which has enabled the river to finally heal ecologically and flow freely once again.
Today, the youth of those Indigenous communities have become the first group to descend the undammed Klamath River by reconnecting the threads almost lost to harmful impacts of colonization and modern agriculture. The historic descent was made possible by the Paddle Tribal Waters program operated by the nonprofit group Rios to Rivers.
This photo series shows how youth found connection and community through taking this journey, generations in the making.
River Warriors
Paddle Tribal Waters is all about working within the Klamath Basin to inspire, celebrate and empower the next generation of Indigenous river stewards in the Klamath Basin, according to 21-year-old Danielle Frank, Hoopa tribal member and Yurok descendant, Director of Development and Community Relations for Ríos to Rivers. Frank also sits on the Rios to Rivers’ board of directors.
“One of our main short term goals over the last few years has been to train Indigenous youth from the basin to whitewater kayak and understand advocacy and river stewardship–as most of them already do– in order to complete the first source of descent of the Klamath River, which we just completed,” Frank said. “Our longer-term goal is to continue stewarding and supporting and revitalizing this relationship that Native youth in our basin have to our waters–and yes, that’s kayaking– but it’s also understanding what it means to be a river person. It’s also learning our cultural understandings and just what it actually takes to show up as a river warrior.”
Camp Life
During the month-long descent, youth kayakers traveled over 310 miles down the Klamath River. The group grew from approximately 30 kayakers to over 120 by the time of the final landing. People traveled from all over the world–Bolivia, China, Chile and New Zealand, to experience this moment with the youth.
Camp life was filled with laughter, stories, and memories that will stick with these youth for the rest of their lives.
The Klamath Basin tribes were once divided by impacts of colonization, and now, through this descent, the youth are rebuilding relationships with one another. Life-long friendships and connections were built through the advocacy and support of healthy river systems.
Final Landing
As the youth kayakers entered the mouth of the Klamath river and their neon-colored kayaks emerged from the fog, the people gathered at the sandpit shore below Requa Village erupted into cheers and applause. They finally realized the dreams of their ancestors who had fought for generations for this moment to happen.
“This moment, this right here, is something our people have been waiting for,” said 15-year-old, Tasia Linwood. “This moment has been prayed for– it’s amazing to be a part of that.”
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