Celilo Falls: A Lost Legacy of the Columbia River

For over 10,000 years, Celilo Falls was the heart of Indigenous life along the Columbia River (Northwest Power and Conservation Council [NWPCC], n.d.). Located just 14 miles upstream from present-day The Dalles, Oregon, the falls were a powerful, churning stretch of water that served as one of the greatest fisheries in North America (Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission [CRITFC], n.d.).

The Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs, and Yakama tribes relied on Celilo Falls not only for sustenance but also as a center of trade and culture (CRITFC, n.d.). Every year, massive Chinook salmon surged through the falls, drawing Indigenous people from across the continent to fish, trade, and celebrate their deep connection to the river (NWPCC, n.d.).

But in 1957, this ancient way of life changed forever. The construction of The Dalles Dam submerged Celilo Falls, erasing one of the most important Indigenous fishing sites in the world (NWPCC, n.d.).

Wy-am The falls were known as Wy-am, meaning “echo of falling water” (CRITFC, n.d.). The sound of rushing water and the mist in the air were imprinted in the memories of those who fished there.

Traditional Fishing Methods Tribal fishers used dip nets—long poles with hoop-mounted nets—to catch salmon as they leapt upstream (NWPCC, n.d.). Fishing from scaffolds built over the falls was dangerous, and young men viewed their first fishing experience at Celilo as a rite of passage (CRITFC, n.d.).

A Major Trade Hub Celilo Falls was also a thriving trade center, drawing tribes from as far away as the Great Lakes to exchange goods like dried fish, shells, and obsidian (NWPCC, n.d.). The falls were not just a place of sustenance but of community, tradition, and intertribal connection (CRITFC, n.d.).

As European settlers moved westward, the balance of the river changed (NWPCC, n.d.).

️The Introduction of Fish Wheels Non-native fishers introduced fish wheels—large rotating traps that captured salmon in massive numbers for commercial canneries (NWPCC, n.d.). These devices devastated fish populations and disrupted traditional Indigenous fishing practices (CRITFC, n.d.).

Overfishing & Declining Salmon Stocks Unlike Indigenous fishers, who only took what they needed, commercial fisheries harvested salmon unsustainably, leading to drastic declines in fish populations (CRITFC, n.d.). By the early 1900s, salmon runs were already severely reduced compared to their historic numbers (NWPCC, n.d.).

By the mid-20th century, the U.S. government had turned its attention to the Columbia River as a source of hydropower and economic growth (NWPCC, n.d.).

The Promise of Progress In 1957, the Army Corps of Engineers completed The Dalles Dam, promising cheap electricity, improved navigation, and better fish passage (NWPCC, n.d.). Officials like Samuel Hutchinson, a former regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, even argued that the dam’s fish ladders would help salmon by making migration easier than at Celilo Falls (NWPCC, n.d.).

A Disappearing Landmark When the floodgates of the dam closed, Celilo Falls vanished underwater in just six hours (NWPCC, n.d.). The mighty roar of Wy-am fell silent.

For the Indigenous people of the Columbia River, the destruction of Celilo Falls was not just a loss of land but a loss of identity (CRITFC, n.d.).

Broken Promises & Treaty Rights Under the 1855 treaties, the U.S. government had guaranteed Indigenous tribes the right to fish at “usual and accustomed places” (CRITFC, n.d.). However, the dam destroyed one of the most important fishing sites, making it impossible for tribes to practice their traditional way of life (NWPCC, n.d.).

Cultural & Spiritual Loss Celilo Falls was more than a fishing ground—it was a sacred space. As Yakama leader Ted Strong put it:

The Fight to Keep Fishing Traditions Alive Even after the falls disappeared, tribal fishers continued to fight for their rights, adapting to fish at new locations along the Columbia River (CRITFC, n.d.).