Unnai

A Guest Post by Pam Ellis, Nipmuc

Before the building of dams to regulate the flow of water on the rivers throughout the Nipmuc homelands and before industrial outflow from factories located along those rivers degraded the aquatic environment, “anadromous” fish such as salmon, shad, alewife and herring were plentiful. Anadromous fish live most of their lives in the ocean but swim inland to lay their eggs or spawn in the freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers of their birth. The Atlantic Salmon spawn in fall in the shallow running waters of rivers and streams, while the American Shad and River Herring spawn in the spring. Shad spawn in shallow water of main streams with moderate flow. There are two species of River Herring, once plentiful in our homelands, the Alewife and the Blueback Herring. Alewife spawn in still water areas such as lakes and ponds. The herring spawn in still or moving water. These two species of River Herring initiate spawning at different water temperatures: Alewife initiate spawning at a water temperature of 51 degrees F and Blueback Herring, at 57 degrees F.

Known to the Nipmuc as ommisuog, the River Herring comprised an important part of our ancestral diet. Historical analysis estimated River Herring traveled at least as far as Mendon on the Blackstone River before dams blocked their migration. Our ancestors mostly likely moved easterly to seasonal encampments closer to the River Herring where they caught some of the fish on their way to spawn. They ate the roe (eggs) and “corned” (salted) or smoked the small silver fish. These methods of preservation allowed for the River Herring to be stored for consumption later in the season. River Herring were also used as fertilizer to enrich the soil and help in the cultivation of the “3 Sisters,” the corn, beans and squash, the primary crops planted, tended and harvested by Nipmuc women to feed our people. English colonial accounts of the Shad and River Herring migration in the 17^th century described a thick, shimmering silver mass of fish moving along the rivers. The River Herring were abundant as were many things in our homelands. We know that our ancestors celebrated the return of their relatives, the River Herring, every year and gave thanks to them for the nourishment they provided for our people.

Sadly, dams have blocked the River Herring and other migratory fish from traveling inland to visit their relatives the Fresh Water People starting in the 18^th century . While dam removals, fish runs and fishways assist the anadromous fish in their migration, there has been a precipitous decline in the River Herring population since 2000. Volunteers from around the state have assisted in annual counts of River Herring that begin in April. Experts assert that the population has decreased by 95%. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island have implemented moratoria on the taking of River Herring. States, nonprofits, and tribes have worked on conservation and restoration of the River Herring population. However, despite these aggressive efforts the River Herring population has continued its drastic decline. For this reason, experts have turned their attention to the River Herring bycatch in the Atlantic herring fisheries. They have begun to examine strategies for mitigating the large number of River Herring caught in the nets of the midwater vessels trawling for Atlantic Herring, a species that is not declining in number. One recent law suit seeks to compel federal regulation of the Atlantic herring fisheries to mitigate the problem of River Herring bycatch.

The River Herring can no longer travel throughout our homelands. However, a number of advocacy groups and nonprofits continue to work on dam removals and construction of additional runs and fishways to support restoration of the River Herring. Volunteers continue to count the herring as they swim up the existing runs, close to the coastal waterways. Still others write to their Congressional representatives and Senators in support of stronger federal regulation of the Atlantic Herring fisheries to mitigate the River Herring bycatch. Although the River Herring can no longer visit many areas of our homelands, and I have never known a time when they have, I still miss them. When I think of them, I am still reminded of the coming of the Spring and the Planting Moon, our New Year. For all of the good things that they brought to our people, I will work and pray for their recovery and the day they will return to the Fresh Water People and our homelands, once again.