The lamprey, a kind of jawless fish related to an eel, has been a central part of the lives of American Indian tribes that lived in the Northwest United States. Every year in June, Native American tribespeople take part in the tradition of intercepting Pacific lamprey as they make their way upstream at Williamette Falls in Oregon. Some researchers say that the increasing presence of large dams in the area may have contributed to the disappearance of the Indians' food source.
A photo taken July 8, 2011 shows Jeremy Red Star Wolf, of the Umatilla Tribe, as he surfaces with a lamprey from the base of Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food.
Cheyenne Wahnetah, left, Tasheena George, center and Kecia Florendo, all of Warm Springs, Ore., searching for lamprey at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.
The lamprey, a jawless fish popularly known as an eel, has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey. Their name comes from a mixture of Latin and Greek which translates roughly to "stone-lickers". Lampreys, which have a toothed, funnel-like mouth adapted for sucking, have no scales (in that way they are similar to eels). Their skeletons are made of cartilage, not bone. They are found in both coastal and fresh waters.
Lamprey caught by tribal harvesters at Willamette Falls in Oregon City, Ore. American Indian tribes have looked to lamprey for food.
A photo taken July 8, 2011, shows a tribal fishermen searching for lamprey at the bottom of the Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey, one where the majestic roar of Willamette Falls is framed by a power plant and an abandoned paper mill.
A lamprey caught by an Indian tribesman at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, USA
Kanim Moses Conner, left, and his brother Jonas Moses Conner with a lamprey at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.
Tribal harvesters searching for lamprey at Willamette Falls in Oregon City
A lamprey hangs from rocks at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City.
Tribal youth stuffing a lamprey in a net at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City
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