The Yakama Tribal Council raised the breaching of the four Lower Snake River Dams with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, as documented in this article, originally published in The Columbian.
By Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick
Published: April 6, 2021, 7:18pm
TOPPENISH – The nation’s second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, heard pleas Tuesday from the Yakama Nation to tear out the lower Snake River dams and to take action on missing and murdered tribal members.
The husband of Vice President Kamala Harris met with the Yakama Nation Tribal Council at Legends Casino, pledging to pass on their concerns to Harris when he saw her Tuesday night and to President Joe Biden when he next sees him.
It was Emhoff’s second visit on behalf of the Biden administration to a tribal nation, a sign of how seriously the administration takes tribal concerns, he said.
“It is very humbling to be on your land,†he said, after bowing his head during a song of blessing for him and Harris. It is the same song that has protected the Yakama people in Washington as they went out to gather food and the veterans in the tribe, he was told.
Emhoff called the blessing “very emotional†and said he would never forget it, before he and the council began to discuss issues.