Guardians of the River: How the Yurok Tribe is Fighting to Save their Sacred Klamath

“Being a Yurok person, the river is our lifeblood. It’s just as important as the air we breathe.”

The project to remove the dams on the Klamath River has received plenty of national media attention as it continues to move forward in a positive way. You’ve probably heard of the ecological impact the removal of the dams will bring to the Klamath basin. It will also return the heart to the Yurok tribe.

Although the voices of the Yurok have been amplified in recent years, members of the tribe have been fighting for decades trying to restore the Klamath. Soon, their efforts will pay off in a big way and the Klamath will be returned to its natural state following over 100 years of damage caused by the dams.

The removal of the Klamath River dams is set to begin in 2023. It will be the largest dam removal project in the history of the world.

Watch the short documentary above to see what the Klamath means to the Yurok and how they continue to fight for its health and rejuvenation.