Above Photo: Jeremy Takala (Yakama) taking the oath of office to become the 2024-2025 CRITFC Chair. The oath was administered by outgoing Chair Corinne Sams (Umatilla). (CRITFC photo/Scissons)
Yakama tribal leader Jeremy Takala was sworn in as the 2024-2025 Chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission at its July meeting, being hosted by the Warm Springs Tribe in Madras, Oregon. Outgoing CRITFC Chair Corinne Sams (Umatilla) administered the oath of office. This is the second time Takala has served as the CRITFC Chair, previously occupying this position in 2020-2021.
Jeremy Takala, Indian name Pax’una’shut, is a Tribal Councilman of the Yakama Nation and is from the Kahmiltpah Band (Rock Creek) of the Columbia River area. Prior to becoming a member of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council (YNTC) he worked for the Yakama Nation Fisheries Project (YKFP) for 12 years at the Klickitat River Research Monitor Evaluate (RME). He currently serves on the Fish and Wildlife Committee, Legislative Committee, Law and Order Committee, and the Veterans Committee for the YNTC.
He has a commitment to remain vigilant in managing fishery resources through the inherent rights that were affirmed through treaties made by the Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce nations. These legal contracts with the United States government serve as guiding principles to help protect the natural foods, streams, and animals; as well as maintaining a stewardship role for future generations to understand and protect. Jeremy is honored to be a part of the CRITFC organization so that he may carry on the vision of past leaders’ work in preserving the natural law that was set in place since Time Immemorial.
In his inaugural remarks, Takala noted the range of commissioners from elders to younger tribal leaders. He said, “There’s a lot of young folks here. We are young but we also have the ability to carry out the words and discipline of our ancestors and elders. We all come from fishing families, we all fish at the Big River. For [my family], that’s why we didn’t move to the reservation, because our people continuously live and carry out our traditional ways and we’re told to never leave the Big River, and never leave our ancestors and their burial grounds.”
Jeremy grew up in Goldendale, WA and was brought up as a drummer and provider for the Rock Creek Longhouse. He acknowledges his traditional teachers which include a long list of family members and tribal elders. Jeremy and his family remain active in the Washut ways and he hands down those teachings to his two sons, Tyler and Clint. He is known in the pow wow circle as a round bustle dancer which is a style that originates from the Yakama Nation. He is also an avid Mariners fan, enjoys being in the mountains gathering traditional foods and medicines, and making memories with his family to continue on the practices that were shown to him during his upbringing. For Jeremy and his family, it’s a team effort that involves the entire community.
The other CRITFC officers elected for the 2024-2025 term were Ferris Paisano (Nez Perce), vice-chair; Ron Suppah (Warm Springs), secretary, and Corinne Sams (Umatilla), treasurer. The election of CRITFC officers takes place every July with the seats rotated among the four member tribes.