Paddle TribAL Waters 2023 Update

PTW Program

Klamath River, California, & Oregon

PTW offers a positive way to celebrate the historic removal of the dams on the Klamath River and support the sovereignty of the Klamath Basin Tribal nations. The program’s goal is to train a group of Indigenous youth to learn to whitewater kayak in hopes of becoming the first people to paddle the restored river from source-to-sea. As the young paddlers reconnect sections of the Klamath River that have not flowed freely for more than a century, they use kayaking to galvanize a movement while reconciling a stolen history and building a future of hope and healing.

With your support, we were able to continue the second year of whitewater and leadership training for the first cohort of 14 PTW youth that began in 2022, expand the intensive training to include another 16 Native youth in a second cohort, prepare five young adults as instructors in training, and engage more than a hundred community members in river-based activities. Here are some snapshots of what the PTW participants have been learning and doing.

2023 Milestones

The dams start coming down!

The historic dam removal process – to be undertaken over several years - began in 2023, and our program ensured that Native youth received first-hand experiences learning about the process and what restoration can mean not only for the river but for all who depend on it.

Ríos to Rivers Board Member Danielle Frank (Hupa) presents to PTW participants about the dam removal process during a tour of Iron Gate, COPCO 1 and COPCO 2.

Cohort 2 student Tasia (Karuk) kayaking her first rapids on the Klamath River.

Lead Kayak Instructor Ben Morton helping Carmen (Hupa) put her spray skirt on for the first time.

Paddle Tribal Waters - Cohort 2

In June, we built on the success of last year’s summer training and held a two-week course for a new cohort of 16 Native Youth and two Native kayak instructorsin-training from the Klamath and Deschutes River Basins. As a measure of the success of our first year’s program and community outreach efforts, we had more prospective students than we had the ability to bring into the program - with 30 amazing applicants for 16 spots. This positive response reflects increased community engagement and support for the program and solidifies our commitment to providing more programming to meet this growing demand next year.

The Cohort 2 Summer Training was hosted at Otter Bar Kayak Lodge (Konomihu Shasta and Karuk ancestral lands) where professional kayak instructors taught the basics of whitewater kayaking. Students gained proficiency in foundational paddle strokes, river running techniques, and kayak rolling. They developed the confidence to successfully and safely paddle class II-III rapids on the Klamath River.

The students also engaged in leadership classes each day, where they learned about river stewardship and local Traditional Ecological Knowledge. The course also included community days in which students learned from local tribal members, and shared what they have been learning with family and community members.

Ruby (Quartz Valley) and ‘A:de’ts (Hupa) scouting Smoker Falls, a class III rapid, with Kayak Coach, Cole Moore

Professional kayaker Rush Sturges provides students with pointers on surfing waves.

Paddle Tribal Waters Cohort 1 on the Trinity River

Paddle Tribal Waters - Cohort 1

In July 2023, we completed a nine-day training for Cohort 1. They practiced their kayaking skills for four days on the Trinity River and then traveled to visit the Klamath Dams to see the beginning of the demolition process. After the visit to the dams the cohort headed up to the Upper Klamath to experience one of the biggest sections of whitewater on the Klamath River, “Hell’s Corner. Working with Momentum Rafting, the youth rafted the Class IV section of the Klamath River, which is currently the most challenging section of the river. This experience gave the young paddlers an idea of what is in store for their planned first descent of the freef lowing river, as this section is most similar to the potential whitewater hidden under the dams that are being removed. Exposure to this level of whitewater raised their understanding of the challenges ahead and inspired their motivation for continued training and skill-building.

They then participated in a training with the nonprofit Diversify Whitewater. The PTW students were able to support the community members who were experiencing whitewater for the first time. PTW students were able to step into a position of mentorship for many of the Diversify Whitewater participants and shined as Native leaders on the water. The program deepened relationships with the community and among the cohort.

Exposure to Different Rivers and College

In mid-April 2023, PTW collaborated with the University of Oregon in Eugene to host a fourday program focused on kayak instruction and an introduction to college opportunities. Students connected with various Native American programs on campus attended multiple events with the Native American Student Union (NASU), and engaged in a campus tour.

Eugene Program Cohort

Julian (Hupa) cooking salmon harvested from the Klamath in the traditional form.

Students playing in the Deschutes River waves

Deschutes River Training Program

In addition to overnighters on the Klamath River, in early October, the combined cohorts of PTW students trained and deepened bonds over three days of overnight kayaking on the Deschutes River, located on The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs land in Oregon, the home river for four of our PTW students. From developing more reliable combat kayak rolls to stronger friendships, the confidence and connections formed over the 3 days of paddling together transcend far beyond navigating a river. Participants learned as a group and were provided one-on-one training that fostered their paddling skills, confidence, and excitement for their role as leaders to celebrate what will be the largest dam removal in history, and for their potential to start local Indigenous-led paddle clubs.

Continued Skill-Building

Throughout the winter, PTW hosted seven pool sessions in central locations across Oregon to provide opportunities for the Paddle Tribal Waters youth to continue to practice and improve their kayak skills. At these sessions, students worked with world-class kayak instructors on underwater composure, rolling, and specific whitewater kayaking techniques, such as paddle stroke practice, edging, and bracing. These pool sessions have had a huge impact on increasing students' comfort and ability when getting back on the river.

Julia and Kiahna (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs) at the Hood River pool during one of seven roll sessions hosted this past winter by Paddle Tribal Waters.

Native Instructor Training Program

In October, 2023 we conducted a five-day “Training for Trainers” program for our Native staff who are in the process of becoming kayak instructors. Staff were provided the opportunity to develop their river skills with one-on-one training. In addition to this, we were offered a no cost 10 day guide training course in Costa Rica to one of our Native staff members. We are excited to continue to develop our Training for Trainers program and provide more opportunities for more certifications and job opportunities.

Film and Storytelling

We have been collaborating with Rush Sturges and River Roots Productions and a Native Storytelling Council that our team developed to document the PTW participants’ journey as kayakers and leaders through a number of short films. The films have shown at numerous film festivals and used for recruitment and raising awareness. The film interviews with the students at the beginning, middle and end of programs serve as a means to collect testimonies on the impact of programming. Thanks to your support, we created an additional three short films conveying the experiences of the students and as well as providing information about the dam removal process.

Below are links to the following short films we produced in 2023

Film Festival Awards

We are excited to share that our first “Paddle Tribal Waters” film won the “Best Short Film” at Wild and Scenic Film Festival, Shining Mountain Film Festival and International Avante Guarde Film Festival. It was the best film at Documentaries Without Boarders International Film Festival. It won the Peoples Choice and best moving film at La Crosse Adventure Film Festival and the Paddling Film Festival and it was the awarded the best Indigenous film at Outter Banks Environmental Film Festival. The film has been part of the offical selection of over 20 other film festivals.

Films in production

The Paddle Tribal Waters Academy students are currently working in their media class to produce a film about their semester long experience. We are nearing completion of a sizzle edit for the feature film that we are producing about the Paddle Tribal Waters program and planned first whitewater source to sea descent of the Klamath River.

Jayden (Hupa) learning to use one of the professional cameras in media class during the 2023 Cohort 2 Program.

Paddle Tribal Waters won “Best Short Film” at Wild & Scenic Film Festival and was part of the official selection at MountainFilm Telluride

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2024?

Paddle Tribal Waters Academy Currently, our PTW semester-long program with World Class Academy is underway! Launched in January 2024 in Alto BioBío, Chile, 13 youth from Klamath River Basin tribal communities are participating in five months of kayaking and academic studies as they travel throughout Chile and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. An Indigenized high school curriculum was developed in collaboration with World Class Academy and three indigenous members of the Ríos to Rivers team.

This extraordinary intensive experience will equip students with the river and expedition skills necessary to become the first group to paddle the Klamath River in its entirety once it is freed of dams.

Cohort 3 : In July 2024, 16 more students will be welcomed to the Paddle Tribal Waters program with a two-week kayak and leadership program held at Otter Bar Kayak Lodge in the Klamath River Basin.

Raft Guide Training: A group of Paddle Tribal Waters alumni will participate in a raft guide program.

Whitewater and Medical Certifications: PTW Students will take part in American Canoe Association Swift Water Rescue and Wilderness First Responder certification courses.