Freshwater Mussels: North America’s Most Endangered Species

The Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Umatilla Indians have lived in what is now northeastern Oregon and southwestern Washington for 10,000 years, moving from place to place in a much larger region to harvest and preserve seasonal foods from the land and rivers. Freshwater mussels, once a plentiful source of traditional foods, have seen a decline in numbers affecting the ability of the tribes to harvest these animals as part of their cultural traditions.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the tribal sovereign authority, is leading the way in Western freshwater mussel research in hopes of maintaining and restoring populations of these animals to local rivers. This project explores the scientific and cultural aspects of these efforts.