Brook Thompson (PSU Honors College ‘18) is a force in the fight for Indigenous water rights and environmental justice. A member of the Yurok and Karuk tribes, Brook grew up on the Klamath River in Northern California before moving to Portland with her mother and attending Franklin High School.
Brook’s academic journey began at Portland State University’s Honors College and Engineering program. She found a welcoming space within PSU's Native American community and valued her study abroad experiences in New Zealand and through Semester at Sea. She credits the Honors College and mentors like Dean Azul, Tim Anderson, and Dr. Kim Williams with shaping her path. These formative experiences influenced her advocacy, which includes speaking at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) and contributing to global discussions on Indigenous rights. For Brook, being Indigenous is inherently political: “If you’re born Native American, you’re born as a political actor, living as an ethnicity that people tried to genocide.”
Her passion for water justice was galvanized by the 2002 Klamath Fish Kill, a devastating die-off caused by upstream dams. That tragedy, along with her deep familial ties to the Klamath, inspired her dedication to environmental restoration. She helped lead the fight to remove four dams along the river, contributing to the return of salmon to ancient spawning grounds. For Brook, this historic removal is more than ecological—it’s cultural: “The idea of hope—people from disadvantaged communities are used to being told their aims aren’t ‘feasible.’ Dam removal was evidence to the contrary.”
Yet Brook acknowledges the difficulties of large-scale advocacy. As both an academic and activist, she works to bridge traditional Indigenous knowledge with technical policy and engineering language. “My family on the river is knowledgeable, but just because they don’t use the right terminology, they are dismissed.” This disconnect motivates her Ph.D. research, aiming to unify Indigenous and Western scientific methods.
As a proponent of Indigenous leadership in environmental restoration, Brook emphasizes the key role Native communities play in efforts like the Klamath restoration. She notes that Klamath people—longtime stewards of the land—are leading seed collection and dispersal efforts. Unlike "9-to-5 activists," Indigenous communities are committed to the land for the long term.
Despite opposition from non-Native residents concerned about property and economic impacts, Brook reframed the issue: “How much land was taken from Native Americans? Creating the dam affected them too.” She highlights how restoration brings new opportunities, such as revitalized fishing and rafting industries. Still, she notes that language often poses barriers: English terms like “resources” and “reestablishment” can clash with Indigenous understandings of sacred ecology. For Brook, the Klamath is not just home—it’s kin.
Brook is also a published author of a children’s book, I Love Salmon and Lampreys. She started writing it while living in the PSU dorms Heyday Press accepted the book on her first pitch. Like her advocacy, the book reflects her belief in pairing activism and education.
She also educates broader audiences on Indigenous rights. In February, Brook delivered a Science on Tap presentation at the Alberta Rose Theater. The talk fused cultural insight with academic rigor and earned Science on Tap’s first standing ovation.
When asked how she balances research and advocacy, Brook cites a lesson from Troy Fletcher of the Yurok: “We can never put a dollar amount on the salmon, because if we do, they will take it away.” Her work centers cultural and environmental values alongside scientific ones.
Throughout, Brook remains rooted in her community, driving home every two months to stay connected with her people and the land. Her grandfather, the last fluent Yurok speaker, helped her learn the language while she attended school.
Looking ahead, Brook is pursuing new projects, including protections for spring salmon under Oregon’s Endangered Species Act, and a forthcoming book. She continues her research into Indigenous-led restoration.
To students and activists, Brook offers this advice: “You can’t help other people or the world if you can’t help yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on yourself and your community.” She reminds us that activism comes in many forms—policy, research, support, even cooking for frontline activists. All roles matter. Her journey from PSU to global environmental leadership shows the power of education, resilience, and cultural identity. As she moves forward, she reminds us that the fight for justice—like the water cycle itself—flows ever on.
Copies of Brook Thompson’s “I Love Salmon and Lampreys” may be found at the PSU library and for purchase at Heydaybooks.com and on Amazon.