Salmon Without Rivers
Salmon Without Rivers: A Summary
The story of the Pacific salmon is a tragic one. Humans have consistently created conditions that threaten the livelihood of the salmon. Yet the salmon continue to fight despite the assault that has taken place on their habitat for over 150 years. In Salmon Without Rivers, Jim Lichatowich (1999) explores this assault as well as discusses man’s attempt to restore salmon to the Pacific Northwest. His detailed analysis of the history of the Pacific salmon sheds light on the plight of the salmon and the response by man to the salmon crisis in the Pacific.
Lichatowich (1999) describes the initial destruction of the salmon’s habitat as beginning with Mother Nature. Through upheavals, eruptions, and the ice age, the salmon habitat in the Pacific Northwest was altered. However, salmon were able to adapt to geological and climactic events in order to continue to thrive in the Northwest. They were able to live within a stable ecosystem, despite the fact that they were often harvested by man for food. According to Lichatowich (1999), the first sign of salmon management can be found in Indian Country. Indian technology and culture furnished a sustainable salmon-based economy for at least 1,500 years. The success of their salmon-based economy can be tied to the fact that they believed that the fish were kindred spirits. These beliefs helped to maintain balance between man and the salmon. Indian people honored the salmon. The annual return of salmon from the ocean had spiritual and cultural significance for tribes, and the tribes developed elaborate rituals to celebrate the return of the fish. (Retrieved December 1, 2011 from http://www.nwcouncil.org/history/IndianFishing.asp). In the tribes’ religious beliefs, salmon were a gift from the salmon king and were immortal. Indians treated the annual arrival of the salmon with great respect and ceremony (Retrieved December 1, 2011 from http://www.nwcouncil.org/history/IndianFishing.asp).
The story of the Pacific salmon is a tragic one. Humans have consistently created conditions that threaten the livelihood of the salmon. Yet the salmon continue to fight despite the assault that has taken place on their habitat for over 150 years. In Salmon Without Rivers, Jim Lichatowich (1999) explores this assault as well as discusses man’s attempt to restore salmon to the Pacific Northwest. His detailed analysis of the history of the Pacific salmon sheds light on the plight of the salmon and the response by man to the salmon crisis in the Pacific.
Lichatowich (1999) describes the initial destruction of the salmon’s habitat as beginning with Mother Nature. Through upheavals, eruptions, and the ice age, the salmon habitat in the Pacific Northwest was altered. However, salmon were able to adapt to geological and climactic events in order to continue to thrive in the Northwest. They were able to live within a stable ecosystem, despite the fact that they were often harvested by man for food. According to Lichatowich (1999), the first sign of salmon management can be found in Indian Country. Indian technology and culture furnished a sustainable salmon-based economy for at least 1,500 years. The success of their salmon-based economy can be tied to the fact that they believed that the fish were kindred spirits. These beliefs helped to maintain balance between man and the salmon. Indian people honored the salmon. The annual return of salmon from the ocean had spiritual and cultural significance for tribes, and the tribes developed elaborate rituals to celebrate the return of the fish. (Retrieved December 1, 2011 from http://www.nwcouncil.org/history/IndianFishing.asp). In the tribes’ religious beliefs, salmon were a gift from the salmon king and were immortal. Indians treated the annual arrival of the salmon with great respect and ceremony (Retrieved December 1, 2011 from http://www.nwcouncil.org/history/IndianFishing.asp).