A minnow sacred to some Native Americans nears extinction

Spring cycles of great fish have fed the Pomo Indians in the millions since they first made their home alongside Northern California’s Clear Lake more than 400 generations ago.

Clear Lake snag shimmers like silver dollars as it swoops down the lake’s tributaries to spawn, a reliable bountiful crop that’s steeped in history and delicious when salted and dried like jerky.

In all that time, the snag field, about 110 miles northwest of Sacramento, hasn’t suffered from the decline in recent years.

Now, with a growing sense of grief, if not anger, the Pomo Indian tribes of Clear Lake watch the symbol of abundance and security they call Chi dwindling into extinction.

On Monday, they took the rare and drastic step of urging Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to use her emergency powers and invoke the federal Endangered Species Act on behalf of the Clear Lake hitch.

“had brought Chi “A return will require a bold plan of action put in place by people with the power to move mountains,” said Ron Montez, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians.

“I have almost no confidence in state or federal officials to bail out Chi And our way of life,” said Montez, 72. “Of course, a miracle can happen.”

Ron Montez, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Big Valley Band in Pomo…