Fish Wars: Tribal Rights and Resiliency in the Pacific Northwest

Saturday, June 7, 2025

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

In the 1960s and 70s, tribes throughout the Pacific Northwest launched protests and acts of civil disobedience to pressure the government to recognize their fishing rights. Now known as the “Fish Wars,” the lessons from these events remain relevant today. 

In this talk, professor Kestrel A. Smith surveys the evidence and events before and after the Fish Wars, which rocked Washington State for decades. Encompassing tribal sovereignty, treaties, statehood, and the fish themselves, the Fish Wars are a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness. Understanding these events is a first, and essential, step in achieving social, cultural, and political justice. 

This presentation is part of Humanities Washington's Speakers Bureau program, in which cultural experts discuss history, politics, music, philosophy, and everything in between at venues around the state. Humanities Washington opens minds and bridges divides by creating spaces to explore different perspectives. It is a 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more about Humanities Washington and the incredible work they do here.