Elakha (ee-LAK-uh) is a Chinook trading language word for sea otter, which were once plentiful in Oregon?s coastal waters.
Sea otters are a keystone species whose predation and behavior have a profound effect on the mix of species around it. In their absence, Oregon?s marine ecosystem has suffered, becoming ecologically less robust.
The Elakha Alliance was formed in 2018 by tribal, nonprofit, and conservation leaders with a shared belief in a powerful vision: an Oregon coast 50 years from now where our children and grandchildren co-exist along with a thriving sea otter population and a robust and resilient marine ecosystem.