Construction of the Celilo Canal was one of a long series of federally-funded blows against tradi... more Construction of the Celilo Canal was one of a long series of federally-funded blows against tradition, independence to follow ancestral ways, and the reverence indigenous people had for this sacred site since time immemorial. “Progress” drove Congressional decisions and it wiped out tribal homes that were standing on the shore of the river. In exchange, the government gave residents seven acres of land set back from the river shore. Later, the government included about 34 “gifted” acres to the Native American residents at Celilo. This expansion had repercussions – drawn by the additional land, dozens of tribal families moved to Celilo but the village could not cope with the sudden influx of people. Sewers overflowed and drinkable water grew scarce.
One hundred miles above the mouth of the Columbia River, the Hudson’s Bay Company built its premi... more One hundred miles above the mouth of the Columbia River, the Hudson’s Bay Company built its premier fort in the West. The French Canadians called it “Jolie Prairie” but long before the presence of outsiders, Native Americans were intimately familiar with the verdant prairie that was bordered by ponds and the Columbia River to the south and a dense forest teaming with wildlife and berries to the north. The Chinookan name for this Columbia River plain was Skit-so-to-ho and the Klickitat name for the area was Ala-si -kas. The native language meanings: "land of the mud turtles.
Through the centuries, Native American women of the Pacific Northwest have been known as the " ga... more Through the centuries, Native American women of the Pacific Northwest have been known as the " gatherers " of their tribes, picking berries, digging roots, and cutting grasses, plants and bark for medicinal remedies. They have collected wapato and aquatic plants from their canoes and prepared their harvests for winter storage. They have woven beautiful baskets, beaded buckskin and created moccasins for utility and for trade. Later, with men, they harvested domestic fruits and hops for field wages. Most important were the seasonal gathering rounds or journeys. It was a time of sharing travel and trade expeditions among families, often traversing the land for several hundred miles in a few weeks. The women prepared the hides during great hunts and cleaned the fish along Pacific Northwest rivers. Using handmade scrapers and ancient methods, they prepared the skins for use or trade. They sun-dried the fish and eel or berries, placing them into sealed hand woven baskets for secure winter storage. A lesser known fact true to many of the Columbia River people was that women conducted most of the barter and trade. Through trade, they often acquired beads and shells for the elegant work that decorated their family's clothing. They created moccasins, shirts, dresses, harnesses and teepees and huts made of animal skins and woven tullies. Collection and trade was central to the seasonal lives of Columbia River peoples and women were often the key figures who bore the knowledge, talent and traditions through many generations. Seasonal gatherings were a marvelous adventure for young people and adults but also a great deal of work. There was the ever-present risk of the unsuccessful hunt or the shortfall in abundance of wild berries that would carry families and villages through the winter. Leah Conner, an elder with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, recalled one such adventure many years ago when her mother was a young woman in the early 1920's: " All summer long they would take off with their uncle and father and his sister and Elsie and Vera and a couple of dogs and a cat. Cats rode on my mother's saddle… And dogs [they] made boxes [moccasins?] for the dogs, so they could travel and not get sore feet. And then they got to Heppner and started digging roots. [And they went] on to the mountains and they'd stop at Sumpter and traded for coffee and sugar. And they traded what they had made on the way-a dried deer tan hide and made moccasins and gloves and things they could sell or trade for….It was their life on the seasonal rounds. They collected all their food in the summer time and by the time they got to Vale on the Snake River they'd dry all the fish and they'd come home with dried fish, dried deer meat, and dried all kinds of roots and berries. And they would have all this food and even though they had all this food, small portions, packs of this food, they would still take in people, relatives, who didn't have a home. And they lived this way all their lives. And it was beautiful how they took care of each other-the dogs survived and the cat survived, all the way from Heppner to Vale and back. " i
Native American traditions speak to respecting nature and protecting the gifts of the earth so th... more Native American traditions speak to respecting nature and protecting the gifts of the earth so that they may renew and all humanity will benefit. Trade-based economies in the Northwest reinforced those philosophies – trading fish for horses, food for metal tools, and sharing winter stores with those in need. Now, Thanksgiving approaches – a holiday invoked by President Lincoln during the Civil War as a brief armistice between North and South to encourage all Americans to recall their blessings in the midst of the nation's most tragic struggle between families, friends and citizens divided. Since then, we've grown to appreciate some of the deeper meanings of Thanksgiving – a time of sharing when non-indigenous people journeyed to North American shores and suffered ill-prepared through a dire winter. With the help of the Mashpee people of the Wampanoag tribe, they learned to plant crops, build houses, and working together, the Pilgrims and the Mashpees received a bountiful harvest in autumn. i
A little-known castle with a fascinating past lies tucked away in the foothills of Scotland’s Hig... more A little-known castle with a fascinating past lies tucked away in the foothills of Scotland’s Highlands where it stands today as one of Europe’s most ancient occupied castles. Rarely noticed, Castle Garth rises over what was once the secure earldom of the infamous Earl of Buchan Alexander Stewart, the “Wolf of Badenoch,” who was the son, grandson and brother of the early kings of Scotland.
Historically speaking, many who live in the Pacific Northwest feel that there is a disconnect bet... more Historically speaking, many who live in the Pacific Northwest feel that there is a disconnect between the tome of " American History " and our region's development. There's an independent spirit of " manifest destiny " and natural resource development that's guided our " West Coast " viewpoint and sometimes collided with " East Coast " beliefs. Well before the journey of Lewis and Clark, a popular Triangular Trade thrived near the mouth of the Columbia River and up and down the coast. Merchant ships sailed from East Coast ports with trade goods for Native Americans that helped them secure furs. The ships set sail for China to trade the furs for valuable teas, silks and porcelains. This trade was so valuable that John Jacob Astoria established a permanent fort at Astoria (near Cape Disappointment), in direct competition with the British and Canadians engaged in similar Chinese trade. By mid-19 th century, China as well as its trade partners was well aware of the profitability and high stakes of this trade. The discovery of gold in California cemented the deal and tripled the need for improved transportation and a readily-available labor force in the sparsely populated West Coast of America. National and international plans were set in motion, driven by the needs of Western America to share its wealth of natural resources. Railroads seemed like the natural solution. By the end of the 19th Century, nearly all of the future Confluence sites – from Chief Timothy to Cape Disappointment were connected by rail service. Chinese laborers were the primary work force that laid the rail lines along the Columbia River, blasted tunnels, and diverted rivers and creeks in an effort to supply water towers for steam locomotives throughout the Columbia River Gorge. The Northern Pacific Railroad was the far northwestern arm of the Transcontinental Railroad, connecting Washington, Idaho and Oregon with the rest of the nation. Shorter railway lines, also largely built by Chinese laborers, linked the Northern Pacific to most major agricultural regions of the Pacific states. As noted in a previous blog, the boom town of Ainsworth, WT, near Sacajawea State Park and the Confluence Story Circles was one of the first in the region to receive connections with the Transcontinental Railroad via construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad that would connect eastern and western portions of Washington and Oregon through the Columbia River Gorge, turning north at Vancouver, WA, to connect the nation crosscountry with the Puget Sound region.
Construction of the Celilo Canal was one of a long series of federally-funded blows against tradi... more Construction of the Celilo Canal was one of a long series of federally-funded blows against tradition, independence to follow ancestral ways, and the reverence indigenous people had for this sacred site since time immemorial. “Progress” drove Congressional decisions and it wiped out tribal homes that were standing on the shore of the river. In exchange, the government gave residents seven acres of land set back from the river shore. Later, the government included about 34 “gifted” acres to the Native American residents at Celilo. This expansion had repercussions – drawn by the additional land, dozens of tribal families moved to Celilo but the village could not cope with the sudden influx of people. Sewers overflowed and drinkable water grew scarce.
One hundred miles above the mouth of the Columbia River, the Hudson’s Bay Company built its premi... more One hundred miles above the mouth of the Columbia River, the Hudson’s Bay Company built its premier fort in the West. The French Canadians called it “Jolie Prairie” but long before the presence of outsiders, Native Americans were intimately familiar with the verdant prairie that was bordered by ponds and the Columbia River to the south and a dense forest teaming with wildlife and berries to the north. The Chinookan name for this Columbia River plain was Skit-so-to-ho and the Klickitat name for the area was Ala-si -kas. The native language meanings: "land of the mud turtles.
Through the centuries, Native American women of the Pacific Northwest have been known as the " ga... more Through the centuries, Native American women of the Pacific Northwest have been known as the " gatherers " of their tribes, picking berries, digging roots, and cutting grasses, plants and bark for medicinal remedies. They have collected wapato and aquatic plants from their canoes and prepared their harvests for winter storage. They have woven beautiful baskets, beaded buckskin and created moccasins for utility and for trade. Later, with men, they harvested domestic fruits and hops for field wages. Most important were the seasonal gathering rounds or journeys. It was a time of sharing travel and trade expeditions among families, often traversing the land for several hundred miles in a few weeks. The women prepared the hides during great hunts and cleaned the fish along Pacific Northwest rivers. Using handmade scrapers and ancient methods, they prepared the skins for use or trade. They sun-dried the fish and eel or berries, placing them into sealed hand woven baskets for secure winter storage. A lesser known fact true to many of the Columbia River people was that women conducted most of the barter and trade. Through trade, they often acquired beads and shells for the elegant work that decorated their family's clothing. They created moccasins, shirts, dresses, harnesses and teepees and huts made of animal skins and woven tullies. Collection and trade was central to the seasonal lives of Columbia River peoples and women were often the key figures who bore the knowledge, talent and traditions through many generations. Seasonal gatherings were a marvelous adventure for young people and adults but also a great deal of work. There was the ever-present risk of the unsuccessful hunt or the shortfall in abundance of wild berries that would carry families and villages through the winter. Leah Conner, an elder with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, recalled one such adventure many years ago when her mother was a young woman in the early 1920's: " All summer long they would take off with their uncle and father and his sister and Elsie and Vera and a couple of dogs and a cat. Cats rode on my mother's saddle… And dogs [they] made boxes [moccasins?] for the dogs, so they could travel and not get sore feet. And then they got to Heppner and started digging roots. [And they went] on to the mountains and they'd stop at Sumpter and traded for coffee and sugar. And they traded what they had made on the way-a dried deer tan hide and made moccasins and gloves and things they could sell or trade for….It was their life on the seasonal rounds. They collected all their food in the summer time and by the time they got to Vale on the Snake River they'd dry all the fish and they'd come home with dried fish, dried deer meat, and dried all kinds of roots and berries. And they would have all this food and even though they had all this food, small portions, packs of this food, they would still take in people, relatives, who didn't have a home. And they lived this way all their lives. And it was beautiful how they took care of each other-the dogs survived and the cat survived, all the way from Heppner to Vale and back. " i
Native American traditions speak to respecting nature and protecting the gifts of the earth so th... more Native American traditions speak to respecting nature and protecting the gifts of the earth so that they may renew and all humanity will benefit. Trade-based economies in the Northwest reinforced those philosophies – trading fish for horses, food for metal tools, and sharing winter stores with those in need. Now, Thanksgiving approaches – a holiday invoked by President Lincoln during the Civil War as a brief armistice between North and South to encourage all Americans to recall their blessings in the midst of the nation's most tragic struggle between families, friends and citizens divided. Since then, we've grown to appreciate some of the deeper meanings of Thanksgiving – a time of sharing when non-indigenous people journeyed to North American shores and suffered ill-prepared through a dire winter. With the help of the Mashpee people of the Wampanoag tribe, they learned to plant crops, build houses, and working together, the Pilgrims and the Mashpees received a bountiful harvest in autumn. i
A little-known castle with a fascinating past lies tucked away in the foothills of Scotland’s Hig... more A little-known castle with a fascinating past lies tucked away in the foothills of Scotland’s Highlands where it stands today as one of Europe’s most ancient occupied castles. Rarely noticed, Castle Garth rises over what was once the secure earldom of the infamous Earl of Buchan Alexander Stewart, the “Wolf of Badenoch,” who was the son, grandson and brother of the early kings of Scotland.
Historically speaking, many who live in the Pacific Northwest feel that there is a disconnect bet... more Historically speaking, many who live in the Pacific Northwest feel that there is a disconnect between the tome of " American History " and our region's development. There's an independent spirit of " manifest destiny " and natural resource development that's guided our " West Coast " viewpoint and sometimes collided with " East Coast " beliefs. Well before the journey of Lewis and Clark, a popular Triangular Trade thrived near the mouth of the Columbia River and up and down the coast. Merchant ships sailed from East Coast ports with trade goods for Native Americans that helped them secure furs. The ships set sail for China to trade the furs for valuable teas, silks and porcelains. This trade was so valuable that John Jacob Astoria established a permanent fort at Astoria (near Cape Disappointment), in direct competition with the British and Canadians engaged in similar Chinese trade. By mid-19 th century, China as well as its trade partners was well aware of the profitability and high stakes of this trade. The discovery of gold in California cemented the deal and tripled the need for improved transportation and a readily-available labor force in the sparsely populated West Coast of America. National and international plans were set in motion, driven by the needs of Western America to share its wealth of natural resources. Railroads seemed like the natural solution. By the end of the 19th Century, nearly all of the future Confluence sites – from Chief Timothy to Cape Disappointment were connected by rail service. Chinese laborers were the primary work force that laid the rail lines along the Columbia River, blasted tunnels, and diverted rivers and creeks in an effort to supply water towers for steam locomotives throughout the Columbia River Gorge. The Northern Pacific Railroad was the far northwestern arm of the Transcontinental Railroad, connecting Washington, Idaho and Oregon with the rest of the nation. Shorter railway lines, also largely built by Chinese laborers, linked the Northern Pacific to most major agricultural regions of the Pacific states. As noted in a previous blog, the boom town of Ainsworth, WT, near Sacajawea State Park and the Confluence Story Circles was one of the first in the region to receive connections with the Transcontinental Railroad via construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad that would connect eastern and western portions of Washington and Oregon through the Columbia River Gorge, turning north at Vancouver, WA, to connect the nation crosscountry with the Puget Sound region.
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