From Source to Sea: Indigenous Youth Complete First Descent of the Klamath

Requa, Calif. – Several dozen Indigenous youth completed a 310-mile, month-long source-to-sea “first descent” of the undammed Klamath River on Friday, realizing a dream of Klamath basin tribes that was years in the making.

As the youths, ages 13 to 20, approached the sand spit adjacent to the Klamath’s mouth in their bright-colored kayaks, tribal elders, family members, friends, and supporters waved and cheered them on.

“I feel so proud to have completed this trip, and am feeling grateful for the support of my family and the fact that I got to honor my grandma’s legacy in her fight for dam removal,” said Ke-Get Omar Dean V, 18, a member of the Yurok Tribe. “We got to complete this journey because of the people that came before us and ensured a free-flowing river.”

The young paddlers trained — some for three years — to run whitewater with kayak instructors from the Paddle Tribal Waters program operated by the nonprofit group Ríos to Rivers. The program includes youth from the Klamath, Yurok, Karuk, Quartz Valley, Hoopa Valley, Warm Springs, and Tohono O’odham tribes.

Four hydroelectric dams blocked the river for more than a century, impeding once-abundant salmon runs. The last of those dams was demolished last year, completing the biggest dam removal in history. The young kayakers set out June 12 to run the river, now free-flowing for the first time in more than 100 years.

During the final few days of the journey, the paddlers were joined by other Indigenous youth and representatives from the Snake River and other river basins in the U.S., as well as members of kayak clubs and Indigenous communities in Chile, Bolivia, and as far away as New Zealand.

“Dam removal has shown us that we can accomplish anything, even if it is hard. This trip was long but has shown me how strong I can be. I feel grateful for my ancestors and everyone who has been helpful. I am proud to be part of this experience,” said Melia McNair, 15, of the Klamath and Modoc tribes.

“Since it has ended it has been mixed emotions, joy to have completed the journey, and sad that this moment is coming to an end,” said Autumn Goodwin, 18, of the Karuk Tribe. “But in a way, it is just the beginning. It is a bittersweet moment.”

A daylong celebration was planned in the nearby town of Klamath, Calif. on Saturday. A “Free Rivers Symposium” with experts, environmental activists and river advocates is also being held.