The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs continue to lead efforts on multiple fronts this summer — from restoring an ancient fish species to Oregon's rivers to expanding health education services for tribal community members and caregivers.
Lamprey Restoration: Bringing Back a Culturally Sacred Species
Working alongside the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are part of an active translocation program to restore Pacific lamprey populations to Oregon waterways, including Coyote Creek and the Long Tom River.
Lamprey biologists Aldwin Keo and Courtney Golts are leading the reintroduction efforts, which aim to move lamprey around impassable dams that have blocked historic migration routes for generations. Pacific lamprey — eel-like fish that have lived in the Pacific Northwest for millions of years — hold deep cultural, spiritual, and nutritional significance for the Warm Springs people and other tribes throughout the Columbia River Basin.
The species has declined sharply in recent decades due to habitat loss, dams, and poor water quality. Tribal biologists and CRITFC scientists say translocation — physically moving lamprey above barriers — can help reestablish populations in streams where the fish once flourished.
"Lamprey are part of who we are. Restoring them is not just an ecological project — it is a cultural one."
Federal Funding Cuts Threaten Tribal Safety Programs
A sobering new report from the Urban Indian Health Institute warns that federal funding cuts enacted since early 2025 are quietly eroding safety nets in Native communities nationwide. A survey of more than 200 tribal organizations found that nearly two-thirds have been forced to scale back vital services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and for families affected by Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases.
The findings are a reminder of the fragility of programs that many Warm Springs community members and other Oregon tribes depend on, and add urgency to advocacy efforts at both the state and federal level.
Brain Health and Dementia Support in Warm Springs
Closer to home, the Warm Springs Community Health Program recently hosted a free educational session on dementia and physical therapy, designed to support local caregivers and reduce stigma around cognitive health challenges.
Shawnetta Yahtin, a medical social worker with the program, emphasized that early awareness matters.
"It is important to get your brain health checked, and it is okay to ask questions."
— Shawnetta Yahtin, Warm Springs Community Health Program
Yahtin noted that she can connect residents with cognitive assessments and resource guides. She can be reached at (541) 553-2352, ext. 6288.
Tribes and City of Bend Hold Joint Meeting
On the government-to-government front, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the City of Bend held a joint meeting in early July to discuss regional priorities. Tribal leaders struck a measured but watchful tone.
"We have sat at many tables over the years. What matters is what happens after we leave them. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will measure this relationship by what is done, not by what is said."
The meeting reflects ongoing efforts to build collaborative relationships between tribal governments and surrounding municipalities on issues ranging from water to land use to emergency services.