Reviving Salmon Runs Through Tribal Hatchery Leadership
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“Without hatcheries and without the other tribal nations, if we weren’t producing fish today, the state of Washington wouldn’t have fish to fish on.”
— Steven Solomon Sr, Lummi Nation Elder and Fisherman
Inside the Skookum Creek Hatchery and a Model for Tribal-Led Recovery
In the Pacific Northwest, tribal nations are leading the charge in bringing salmon back to their rivers. This film follows the Lummi Nation as they confront a hard truth: without hatchery programs, there may be no salmon left to fish. At Skookum Creek Hatchery, their team is turning the tide with science-driven strategies rooted in cultural responsibility and long-term vision.
What began as an urgent response to plummeting Chinook numbers has become one of the most successful recovery programs in the region. By collecting juveniles directly from the riverbed and raising them in captivity, the tribes ensured propagation of the entire genetic diversity of the population. With thousands of hatchery fish returning, their work is restoring fishing rights, strengthening salmon runs, and proving the power of collaborative conservation.
This story is about more than one hatchery; it’s about community-driven science, treaty rights, and the belief that sustainable salmon management must include Indigenous leadership. With tribal knowledge, modern genetics, and decades of persistence, these nations are not only bringing fish back, they’re protecting a way of life.
Funding provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
About Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
The 20 treaty tribes of the NWIFC co-manage salmon fisheries with the state of Washington and are active in every aspect of natural resources management.
