Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
August 7, 2024
Page 3
Celilo Falls: Historic photos document what was lost
(from page 1)
Aja DeCoteau, CRITFC
executive director, expressed
deep gratitude for the gift.
She spoke of showing the
pre-release copy of the book
series earlier at the CRITFC
commission meeting, and
the profound impact the
photos had on tribal com-
missioners and elders.
“The interest and excite-
ment were incredible,” Ms.
DeCoteau shared. “Seeing
themselves or their relatives
in these photos spurred
memories and emotions, al-
lowing them to relive those
precious moments and share
their stories.”
Gene Maltzeff, the son
of one of Raymond’s fed-
eral co-workers and a sub-
ject in several of the photo-
graphs, also attended the
ceremony.
He added personal anec-
dotes about his time spent
at Celilo Falls with his father.
Maltzeff described the falls
as the “eighth wonder of the
world,” and the “lungs of
the Columbia River,” em-
phasizing the loss felt by
many when the area was
flooded.
The way of life
The Matheny family’s gift
is a significant addition to
CRITFC’s archives, offering
a rare glimpse into a way of
life that was profoundly al-
tered by the dam’s construc-
tion. These photos, now pre-
served for future genera-
tions, serve as a historical
record of obstacles the
tribes have worked to over-
come and thrive in spite of.
Jeremy FiveCrows notes
the unique value of
Matheny’s work.
“Raymond saw the fish-
ers as people, not just as part
of the scenery. He inter-
acted with them, got their
names, and took detailed
notes, making these photos
incredibly special.”
Donella Miller, CRITFC
Community
notes...
The Warm Springs Thurs-
day Market is from 10:30
a.m. to 2 p.m. under the Cam-
pus Pavilion. Vendors are wel-
come to set up. Contact
KWSO for more informa-
tion:
kwso@wstribes.org
Or call 541-553-1968.
Warm Springs Behavioral
Health is now taking applica-
tions for the Per manent
Supportive Housing pro-
gram. This program provides
affordable housing with ten-
ant support services to mem-
bers of the Confederated
Tribes of Warm Springs who
are experiencing chronic
homelessness, limited income,
and mental or physical health
issues, disabilities or substance
use disorder.
The Warm Springs Com-
munity Action Team is host-
ing the financial education
series ‘Pathways Home: A
Native Homeownership
Course,’ via Zoom.
The course starts Thurs-
day, August 15; and then
meets every Thursday
through September from
5:30-7:30 online.
This course is required for
anyone in the IDA program
for home ownership.
To sign up, email to:
mallory@wscat.org
The falls disappeared
nearly three-quarters
of a century ago. It is
still an emotional
subject, particularly
for those elders who
were on the
riverbanks that day...
Fishery Science manager,
reflects on the importance
of the collection:
“It means so much to us
as tribal members to see
how our ancestors lived.
These photos are a connec-
tion to our past, and they
help us remember and
honor those who came be-
fore us. Many of them
never left and continue to
live this way to this day.”
Ms. Miller also noted the
inclusion of other fishing
sites near Celilo Village. She
said:
“I appreciated the books
also included other sur-
rounding fishing areas such
as Spearfish and Big Rapids.
Pictures of those sites are
far less common than
Celilo.”
Attention to detail
Raymond Matheny’s
1952 article, shared by the
These Raymond Matheny photos, of tribal fishing at
Celilo Falls, are courtesy of the Matheny family, and
the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.
Matheny family with the digi-
tal photos in 2007, vividly
described the significance of
the Celilo Falls fishery, de-
tailing the traditional fishing
methods used by the tribes
and still used by fishers to-
day:
“They use nets sewn
around an iron ring attached
to a wooden or aluminum
pole of varying length. Fish-
ing is done from wooden plat-
forms weighted down with
rocks and natural dipping
places or rocky ledges.”
Raymond also expressed
the cultural and economic
impact of the fishery:
“The Indians fish by
themselves or frequently in
companies, dividing the
money resulting from the
fish sold. It is a ruling set up
and enforced by the various
tribal councils that the Indian
who is fishing must wear a
safety rope around his waist.
“Many Indian fishermen
have drowned at Celilo by
slipping into the swiftly flow-
ing Columbia River.”
Raymond’s attention to
detail regarding the fishery
and tribal life were reflected
in the notes he kept for each
photo, many of which he
knew by name.
His dedication to docu-
menting this historically sig-
nificant period before the in-
undation of the falls has left
the tribal fishers and their de-
scendants with an invaluable
gift.
Raymond Matheny’s photos of Celilo Falls
in the early 50’s were treasured by his children
and family.
It was his wish, his children said, that the
collection be gifted to those tribes the photos
depicted.
Despite the fact that the
falls disappeared nearly
three-quarters of a century
ago, it is still an emotional
subject, particularly for those
elders who were on the
riverbanks that day. The som-
ber event and historic was
foreshadowed in Raymond’s
writing as well.
His relationship with the
falls and its community mem-
bers is illustrated in his ar-
ticle, shared with CRITFC by
his family.
Reflecting on the impend-
ing changes three years be-
fore the inundation, he wrote,
“The construction of The
Dalles Dam will eventually
flood all the present fishing
sites. These historic grounds
will be covered by 75-80 feet
of backwater from another
one of the ‘White Man’s’
dams.”
The slide collection will be
securely stored at CRITFC’s
Columbia Basin Fish and
Wildlife Library.
After it is fully cataloged,
the library plans to make a
searchable database of the
images available for viewing
on its website.
The images will be used
to help educate current and
future generations about life
at Celilo Falls.
The ceremony concluded
with the presentation of a
Pendleton blanket and other
gifts to the Matheny family,
symbolizing the deep appre-
ciation and respect from
CRITFC and the tribes.
This article is courtesy of
the Columbia River Inter-
Tribal Fish Commission.