22
How well the redmep know that the
river is not always friendly. Occasion
ally a luckless one in the p a g h a W g j
(Continued from page
pelled two white men from the rocks his footing to slip intoffiiurning wa
and destroyed their wooden platform, ters which now and then have claimed
mauling the alleged trespassers in the a fisherman for her o^n. /Whgn
process. Indians declared that the happened a yellow flag flew over the
rocks of Celilo were theirs ■
'-Q’-rand long-house. Fishing was suspended
theirs only — because of traditional until funeral servilreBwere J | l r and
RB S uckless one was on his mysterious
usage through uncounted centuries.
Older Indians are worried they may way to happy hunting grounds in nev
lose their fishing rights, which for er-never land.
In more recent years Indians have
many are their main source of sub-
tenance and revenue. Some Indians becomdjmore practical. They carry
live in the village at Celilo throughout ropes tied around their ^^Ss-./and
the year. The cabins sire loca-ted on anchored to fishing platforms. In the
Indians never used ropes.
rocky soil which makes gardens-im old
practical. Plans are underway to lo
Legend says they thought by chal-
cate the villagers in a new federal lenging dangers of the
meant
housing project.
they were battling salmon on equal
bravery
Permanent residents term the red- footing. Thus it was
men who come from a distance as and daring to exercise caution. How
“ comers,” who catch their fish, prepare ever, even with ropes today, fishing
them and leave. ^Som ers” hang their with nets continues to have its ele
fish to dry from the eaves -of crude ments of danger. UnderstanBig ^white
shelters in which they camp. Perma-, folk declare the Indians earn all the
nent families have their own drying fish they can get.
Redmen of long ago supplemented
h(^§es.
Nothing is wasted except the en their fisn la a lB w i« venison, huckle
trails. Even the tails are dried and berries and c a m a W S W lB m t today
heads are split and peeled out “until
they look like huge bat wings.” Back
bones and ribs are dried for later use
in soups. Meat is cut into large strips
from a half-inch to an inch thick.
These are hung from racks or spread
out to absorb the sun’s drying rays.
Squaws are responsible for most of
the fish drying and preparation, in
cluding the making of chelae (Indian
sugar). ‘This is made by drying fish
flakes on tule mats. After many days
when dehydration islbomplete, flakes
are pounded between rockS into a fine
powder, which is then pressed into a
storage bucket for future use. A quart
of chelae is derived from flakes an
inch deep spread on a three-foot square
drying rack. Indians say the powder
Eugene, Oregon
serves as a delightful seasoning.
Indians at Celilo
Eugene
Hotel
Telephone 12
- 1 2 1 Lyon Street
NISSEN MOTOR CO.
Headquarters
For All Occasions
Ford
Authorized Dealer
A L B A N Y , O R EGO N
C . E. McLean, Mgr.