Lampreys' tour of Portland-area schools highlights cultural, ecological importance
PORTLAND, Ore. — A pair of fish is visiting classrooms across the Portland-metro area.
They're Pacific Lamprey, which is an ancient species older than even dinosaurs.
They're also threatened.
The fish are on loan right now from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
Oregon State University's 4-H program is taking the fish on tour to teach students about their cultural and ecological importance.
“Youth voice and youth action is so important if we really want to make a difference in our communities,” said Maureen Hosty, with the 4-H program. “By us engaging 4-H youth and to help solve problems and come up with solutions to some of these problems that we face, like fish that are endangered, it really helps, gets kids engaged and excited, and they learn.”
Part of this is also about incorporating indigenous studies into school curriculums.
There are 10 lamprey species native to Oregon, found throughout the Columbia and Snake basins.
They have a sucker mouth and, as you can imagine, all the kids were super excited to have them suck on their hands.