14
and answers as Indians are lined up
on both sides of the long-house.
A high Indian leader views the
group sagely and at length speaks in
deep, solemn tones.
“Take water,” he commands.
Each redman picks up his cup of
water. They drink when given the
command by the leader, but limit
themselves to just one sip.
Soon he orders: “Now take salmon.”
Each person picks up a small morsel.
When the high official intones, “Now
eat,” the Indians only taste.
He then commands, “Now help
yourselves,” and they taste of the
other foods.
On the signal,. “A ll food,” Indians eat
the feast to the last crumb.
After the festiye board has been
cleared, preparations are underway
for the salmon dance, as&tom-toms
slowly begin their cadence of aborigi
nal music. Softly and with measured
beat, the drums sing their ancient
songs — of simple faiths of Nature’s
children in things supernatural. With
a happy rhythm the drums gradually
increase their tempo, working up into
a veritable frenzy of thanksgiving. In
dians keep time to the tom-toms as
they balance themselves on their toes
and fervently chant religious odes-.
As the leader taps a bell, different
formations of the dance take shape,
continuing until thanksgiving rites are
at their climax. At this ¿point the bell
is tapped for a final time, closing the
ceremonies. The men leave the long-
house first, followed by the women,
ready to begin their new season of
fishing.
The men climb out on fishing rocks
which were passed from one genera
tion to the next, each rock remaining
in individual families. Since the: com
ing of white meu, Indians have fash
ioned wooden platforms on which to
stand and have adopted other inno
vations of their paleface brothers.
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When Lewis andgClark, northy^st ex
plorers, came by this- way in 1805, the
Indians were at Celilo Falls battling
Chinooks. Later 'they were observed
by hovered wagon emigrants who
came this way in the 1840s.
More and more Bvhite peWhnj came
to the Oregon country and more and
more the Indians were crowded? How
ever, the influx of settlers did not push
the redmen away from the falls. In
dian chiefs back in 1855 entered into
a treaty with the United States that
fishing rights of Indians at Celilo shall
be inviolate for all time.
However, in recent years treaty
rights have been under question, part
ly on grounds this type of fishihg is
endangering the supply of Salmon. At
tempts have been made to enforce
seasonal bans but without effect.
Several years ago redmen clashed
with the law when the salmon season
was ordered clcjsed. Members of the
Warm SpringslffCblumbia River, Yak
ima, Umatilla, and Nez Perce tribes,
voted unanimously they were within
treaty rights!; to not salmon at Celilo
Falls at any time they wished. So they
continued fishing.
In-“"the meantime,’: the redmen ex-
- (Continued on Page 22) I
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