For the Yurok tribe in Northern California, fish is not just the
main food source, it is also a commodity on which the tribe’s
ancient culture and many of its ceremonies depend.
In September 2002, a massive fish kill left 33,000 adult salmon
dead on the lower 17 miles of the Klamath River and devastated the
tribe.
Two Yurok tribe members, who also conduct research for the
Tribal Fisheries Program, spoke at Kerckhoff Grand Salon on Friday
to raise awareness about conditions along the Klamath river in
Northern California. The conference also provided information on
water rights for the American Indian community.
According to a report from the California Department of Fish and
Game, federal water diversions from the Klamath River were the
primary cause of a massive fish kill.
The educational forum was presented by the American Indian
Student Association (AISA) to commemorate Native American Heritage
Month.
Though the issues discussed in the forum affect residents in
reservations in Northern California, and may not impact the UCLA
community as a whole, they have a direct impact on the life of
first-year psychology student Virginia Myers.
Myers is a member of the Yurok tribe, based near Humboldt
County, who spent most of her life on the reservation.
She left behind her old lifestyle when she moved to Los Angeles
to attend UCLA. Yet the problems affecting her tribe are very much
on her mind on a daily basis.
“Where I come from, everyone knows what it means to be
Indian,” Myers said.
“Sometimes I’m just blown away by the ignorance when
people ask me questions based on stereotypes, and they are asking
in genuine honesty,” she said.
American Indians make up less than 1 percent of the entire
student body at UCLA, and AISA works as a community to clarify
misconceptions regarding the art, language, history and lives of
American Indians.
Native American Heritage Month is a good chance for American
Indian students to share different aspects of their culture with
the rest of the community and help the UCLA community understand
there is more to being an American Indian than feathers, drums,
fires and dances, said Lambert Yazzie, a second-year American
Indian studies graduate student.
“The goal of this month is to let everyone know that we
are here, and we are proud of who we are and where we come from.
… We are very much imbedded in our culture and language,”
he added.
There will be a showing of two documentaries relating to the
Native American community today at 8 p.m. in Kerckhoff Grand
Salon.