Dear Friend, Today on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate and honor the rich and resilient history of Indigenous peoples in our region. We also recommit ourselves to do everything in our power to rectify the harm that federal and state governments have unleashed in these communities for centuries. At the core of this effort is the recognition of Tribal sovereignty. In Congress, I am committed to fighting to halt and reverse the erosion of Tribal sovereignty and restore resources for Tribes in Oregon and beyond. Indigenous communities have been responsible stewards of Oregon’s lands and wildlife since time immemorial. We must do more to uplift their knowledge and leadership in our conservation efforts. That’s why I am championing a groundbreaking Tribal co-management model of governance for Mt. Hood and in the Columbia River Gorge. I am also fighting for more federal support for the Columbia River in-lieu and treaty fishing access sites that Tribes across Oregon and Washington depend upon for ceremonial, subsistence, and economic purposes.  The federal government has not done enough to fulfill their promise to maintain and support safe, healthy and habitable fishing sites along the Columbia River. While much more must be done, I am pleased that earlier this week, President Biden directed agencies to use every resource available—and asses what additional resources they need— to restore healthy and abundant wild fish populations in the Columbia River Basin. Another issue that is of particular importance in the Pacific Northwest is what to do about the Snake River dams. I’m proud to have partnered with my Republican friend from Idaho, Congressman Mike Simpson, who spent considerable time working and listening to the Tribes and coming up with a plan that would renew the salmon population and fulfill commitments that we made. The federal government has a legal and moral obligation to heal the wounds of settler colonialism—and it is clear we are not meeting that obligation. Today, we redouble our commitment to right the wrongs of the past and build a more equitable future.