[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5937]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLOODING OF CELILO FALLS

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2007

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, for thousands of years, Celilo Falls 
was the most important native fishery and the center of a vast trade 
network linking the coastal and plateau peoples of the Northwest to the 
buffalo hunters of the Great Plains and the foragers of California. 
Thousands of Native people gathered at this meeting place every year 
during the spring and summer fish runs to harvest salmon and trade, 
socialize, exchange arts and ideas, and participate in ceremonial 
rites.
  Celilo Falls was known to Native Americans as WyAm, a word which some 
say means ``echo of falling water.'' Archaeological digs prior to the 
completion of The Dalles Dam confirmed that Indian people had 
continuously occupied the Celilo village site for at least 11,000 
years, making it the oldest continuously occupied site in Oregon.
  By the 20th century, Celilo Falls was a tourist spot famous for the 
sight of Indian salmon fishers dip-netting from wooden scaffolds above 
the rapids. But on March 10, 1957, the rising waters of The Dalles Dam 
inundated Celilo Falls. Celilo Village was relocated and today sits 
about 10 miles east of The Dalles, on the Oregon bank of the Columbia 
River. It is inhabited by fewer than 100 people and comprises a 
collection of small houses, and abandoned trailers.
  Over the years, Celilo's deteriorating state was cause for public 
health and safety concerns to village residents, and needed to be 
addressed. The Tribes requested the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to 
rebuild the village, and in 2004, Public Law 108-204 was signed into 
law, authorizing Celilo Village redevelopment. The law provided for 
repairs to the Longhouse, reconstruction of the village's main 
structures and infrastructure systems, and operation and maintenance of 
the rebuilt village. The Corps expects construction to be completed by 
2009.
  Today the spectacularly renovated Celilo Longhouse is used for the 
ceremonial First Salmon feast, an annual rite which honors the return 
of the life-giving fish and pays homage to allow their life cycle to 
begin anew. Traditionally, the feast must be completed before fishing, 
hunting, root-digging and gathering seasons can officially begin.
  By commemorating the 50th anniversary of the flooding of Celilo 
Falls, and the ongoing restoration of the village, we are doing more 
than keeping the memory of a once vibrant salmon fishery and cultural 
center for Native Americans alive. We are looking with an eye to the 
future on keeping our commitment to uphold Tribal Treaty rights, 
restore salmon runs, and ensure that residents of Celilo Village have 
the opportunity to thrive, just as their ancestors were able to do for 
thousands of years.

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