This spring, the Klamath River is flowing freely again for the first time in more than a hundred years. At the heart of this powerful moment is one of our own, Carmen Ferris, whose journey on the river is a story of strength, healing, and pride.

Carmen grew up along the Trinity River, where her family has always lived close to the water. Her father, Jumper Ferris, has spent his life fishing and hunting, teaching her the ways of the river and the land. Those lessons are part of her, and she carries them with her wherever she goes.

When Carmen paddles, she wears a swallowtail necklace her grandfather made for her, a reminder of who she is and where she comes from. She also carries the words of our language, even if she doesn’t know them all. She knows that even a few words are better than none, and that pride in our language and our way of life is powerful.

Now, Carmen is taking that pride to new waters. She has trained as a whitewater kayaker to paddle the Klamath River from source to sea. The Klamath is much bigger, faster, and more dangerous than the Trinity, but Carmen is ready. She spent six weeks in Chile with the World Class Academy, pushing herself to learn and grow. Out of 13 students, she is one of just five advanced enough to paddle the river’s toughest sections.

This spring, as the Klamath flows free again, Carmen will paddle alongside the first generation of juvenile salmon making their way to the sea for the first time in over a century. This shared journey symbolizes the healing of the river and the renewal of life for our people and the land.

For Carmen, this journey is about more than kayaking. It’s about healing and reconnecting with the river. It’s about showing that our people are still here—strong, proud, and connected to the land. As the Klamath flows free again, Carmen shows us that when the river runs free, so do we.

We are proud of Carmen Ferris and the way she carries our hopes and our traditions. Let’s honor her journey and celebrate the courage she shows as she paddles forward—swallowtail necklace around her neck and the spirit of our people guiding her every stroke.

Posted in Stories