Celilo Falls Commemoration

If you were driving east or west on Interstate-84 anytime this weekend you would probably be asking what was going on at the Celilo Village, just about eight miles east of The Dalles. You'd find hundreds of cars either parked at Celilo park, or at the Village around the Longhouse. If your window was open, you'd probably smell the salmon being cooked over an open fire. If you decided to stop by and see what this was all about, then you would find vendors, representatives from local tribes, tribal leaders and speakers, food, and of course, salmon.

It is officially 50 years since The Dalles Dam flooded the famous Celilo Falls. Celilo was known nationwide, and attracted tourists from accross the country. What was so great about it? The sound of the River roaring through the rocks, and the site of it was rare.The scene is now only a memory in minds of few. If you were brave, you would probably want to step out onto the scaffolds built above the water. The scaffolds would provide the ability to dip your nets in the water to catch the salmon heading home from the ocean. That is what Celilo is so famous for, fishing. Catching salmon caused the gathering of hundreds, possibly thousands of fisherman during the spring run. Not only fisherman, but tourists, and natives from tribes in the area.

This weekend Natives from the area commemorated the 50th anniversary of Celilo's silencing. This event was complete with your average vendors, frybread, information booths, tribal representatives, and salmon. Throughout the day at the longhouse there were washat services, dinners, and other traditional ceremonies. All of it was to once again bring people back, to visit the memory of Celilo Falls.