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Oregon Territory

March 9, 2007 — Celilo Falls

part one part two

download links: part one | part two

Fifty years ago, the Columbia River began pooling up behind The Dalles Dam, drowning a five-mile stretch of cascades known as Celilo Falls. The dam flooded one of the most prolific salmon runs in North America-an area that had been occupied-and fished— by Pacific Northwest Indians for at least 10,000 years.

Watch a movie of Celilo Falls:



These days, there are still Indians on both sides of the river where Celilo Falls used to be, but without the traditional fishing for salmon on wooden platforms, their culture and traditions are dramatically different.

This week you'll hear about what Celilo Falls used to be like, and what was lost forever when floodgates on The Dalles Dam were closed in 1957.

View an audio slideshow of Celilo Village today

Host: Colin Fogarty

Guests: Several people who remember Celilo Falls— and several who have grown up after the falls were flooded

Links:

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