MOSIER, Ore. (AP) — Leaders of several Northwest tribes are gathering at the site of last week’s fiery train derailment to highlight the risks of moving volatile crude oil along the Columbia River.

Yakama Nation leader 0 tolerance for fossil fuels thru Gorge #KOIN6News #Mosieroilspill pic.twitter.com/UHkTmXsEoR— Lisa Balick (@lisabKOIN) June 9, 2016

The chairman of the Yakama Nation, JoDe Goudy, said in a statement Thursday that the derailment has been devastating to the town of Mosier and to people who live along the Columbia River.

Native Americans still live along the Columbia River and have depended on it for salmon for centuries. Many live right along the railroad tracks and fear for their safety.

Tribal leaders were supported in Mosier Thursday by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., president of the National Waterkeeper Alliance.

“This is a chemical assault on our kids,” Kennedy said. “We need to treat this like other terrorist risks.”

Kennedy also said he has family in Mosier who live near the derailment.

Robert Kennedy Jr. pres. WaterKeepers Alliance supports #tribes calls fossil fuels immoral criminal #KOIN6News pic.twitter.com/by8tHy8fza— Lisa Balick (@lisabKOIN) June 9, 2016

The Yakama and other tribes have opposed the movement of oil and other fossil fuels through the region, saying the trains pose grave threats to public safety, the environment and their treaty-reserved fishing rights.

Leaders of the Yakama Nation wants people to call on representatives to have zero tolerance for oil trains along the Columbia River.

A 96-car train carrying crude oil from the Northern Plains’ Bakken region to Tacoma, Washington, derailed June 3 along the Columbia River. Four cars caught fire.

The derailment happened as tribal leaders were gathering to commemorate the signing of an 1855 treaty between the US and tribes where the tribes have up 12 million acres of land the the US government.

Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Justin Jacobs said Thursday the company takes the concerns very seriously. But he says the railroad is federally obligated to transport crude oil and other commodities for its customers.KOIN 6 News contributed to this report.