Salmon culture: our common heritage

Celilo Falls during fishing season. Carefully constructed scaffolds lined the areas surrounding the turbulent waters flowing through the falls.

For thousands of years, Indians have harvested salmon from the Columbia River for commercial, physical and spiritual sustenance. The salmon were routinely sold to and traded with neighboring tribes, settlers and explorers. Celilo Falls (pictured at the right), a former premiere fishing and trading location, has even been referred to as the "original Wall Street of North America."

The fishers' legendary finesse and techniques were witnessed and reported by Lewis and Clark and other early explorers and settlers. Wood scaffolding would be constructed as platforms along the shore for fishermen harvesting spawning salmon with long-handled dip nets. Another method used was spearing the fish from small boats.

In 1855, the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Yakama and Warm Springs tribes signed a treaty with the United States government to reserve, forever, their right to fish at all of their usual and accustomed places. The rich custom of tribal fishing continues to be essential to the heritage, culture and economy of the Indian people and to the Pacific Northwest.

We invite you and your family to this unique, cultural event and to experience the tradition...