Tribes, religious leaders call for Columbia River Treaty updates

By Kate Prengaman
Yakima Herald

In an unprecedented move, tribal leaders from the Northwest and Canada, including the Yakama Nation, have teamed up with the region’s religious communities to call for updates to the Columbia River Treaty.

The treaty, signed in 1964, governs the hydropower and flood control agreements between the U.S. and Canada, and is open to renegotiation. In a letter sent to President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday, the tribal and religious leaders said that a modern treaty would include recognizing the rights of indigenous people and promoting environmental stewardship.

The letter is signed by 14 faith communities, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yakima, and seven indigenous leaders representing 27 tribes and first nations. Read more