This story originally appeared on Underscore.news.
Last April, in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Toby Patrick hosted an Easter Day root feast at his home on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. He knew there could be repercussions.
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation had postponed its own annual Root Feast, a large celebration of traditional foods, to limit the spread of COVID-19. But Patrick didn’t want to let the important time of year go unmarked.
More than two dozen members of Patrick’s family gathered on April 18 2020 to celebrate the coming of spring by honoring First Foods, such as the couse root, also known as biscuitroot, and camas.
CASCADE LOCKS â For its 18th season, âTop Chefâ tried to make the most of its Oregon location.
Throughout the reality cooking show competition, chefs from around the country were asked to cook with craft beer from Portland, fruit from Hood River and wine from the Willamette Valley.
But for the seasonâs sixth episode, which premiered on Thursday, May 6, the production ventured from Portland to Cascade Locks, where contestants were challenged to work with ingredients that predate Oregonâs status as an American territory, much less a state â the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservationâs First Foods.
The First Foods â water, fish, wild game, roots and berries â are not only cuisine, but a fundamental aspect of life for the Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse peoples since âtime immemorial,â a collection of foods that inform the Tribesâ yearly activities and rituals and a motivating factor in the CTUIRâs envir
Oregon tribes working to bring beavers back to Beaver State
Lucy Sherriff
This story originally appeared on Underscore.news.
C’waam and Koptu were once a staple meal for the Klamath Tribes. They’re a rarity now members are allowed to catch only two of the suckerfish a year. The ray-finned C’waam, with its long snout and the smaller white-bellied Koptu, with a large head and lower notched lip, are only found in the Upper Klamath basin.
Once fished in their thousands as one of the tribes’ important First Foods, the fish populations were decimated when the health of their spawning grounds declined from a spate of dam building in the Upper Klamath Lake during the 1900s.
Bringing beavers back to the Beaver State
Oregon tribes are reintroducing a species that creates important habitat for First Foods. But the Beaver State s laws don t work in the animal s favor.
Author:
May 3, 2021
A gnawed tree on the shore of the Umatilla River is the work of a beaver. Bushes and trees provide food and shelter for these nocturnal rodents. (Photo by Kathy Aney, Underscore)
Oregon tribes are reintroducing a species that creates important habitat for First Foods. But the Beaver State s laws don t work in the animal s favor.
Lucy Sherriff
C’waam and Koptu were once a staple meal for the Klamath Tribes. They’re a rarity now members are allowed to catch only two of the suckerfish a year. The ray-finned C’waam, with its long snout and the smaller white-bellied Koptu, with a large head and lower notched lip, are only found in the Upper Klamath basin.
Oregon tribes reintroduce beavers to the Beaver State, but hurdles remain
Updated May 03, 2021;
Posted May 01, 2021
Until the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation bought this land near Pendleton, the river flowed faster and more directly. Beavers helped create side channels that slowed the water and turned it into the biggest wetland in the Umatilla Basin.
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By Lucy Sherriff, Underscore.news
C’waam and Koptu were once a staple meal for the Klamath Tribes. They’re a rarity now members are allowed to catch only two of the suckerfish a year. The ray-finned C’waam, with its long snout and the smaller white-bellied Koptu, with a large head and lower notched lip, are found only in the Upper Klamath basin.