Celilo Falls silenced by the Dalles Dam | Echo of Water Against Rocks

"Celilo Falls, for thousands of years it was the cultural hub of the Pacific Northwest, drawing people from across the region to fish, feast, trade, and renew kinship... In 1957 Celilo Falls was swallowed by the rising backwater of the newly constructed Dalles Dam. A new era of hydropower had begun, displacing the traditional ways along the Columbia..." Produced and directed by Ian McCluskey & Steve Mital.

[@Tigerangel8]

My great grandfather, Ernest Mosier, was the sheriff of Wasco County during those times. He fought against the dam for years and worked with his indigenous brothers and sisters. My grandfather says he stood on the banks and wept as the falls were swept away.

[@stevehotka1219]

I was born in December of 1957, so I never had a chance to see this wonderful site. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@paulkelly6160]

I remember going past Celilo as a child, then one day my dad stopped. He told my two brothers and I to imprint the vision of the falls because it was going away, never to come back. The defeaning sound then, is a defeaning silence.
I have pictures of the falls, but they don't 'due' it justice. I miss Celilo falls, every time I go past. It still brings tears to my eyes at times. I know that I will never see the falls again in my life time and that saddens me.

[@dorothylewis1207]

I agree with you, that Dam could have been built someplace else on the Columbia so the Falls could remain.

[@threemileteacher]

You never know about the Dam. It moves a few inches every year. It could break down in your lifetime.

[@lionharpmusic]

Just stayed in the Dalles last night. Never had been there before and knew nothing of its history. Both my wife and I commented to each other how the land and area felt sad. We felt that something bad had happened here and the land was unhappy. It was palpable. Started reading about Celilo Falls and the dam and now I know. All so tragic.

[@Kat-I-am3333]

I got chills reading your comment 😢

[@user-rn6hr1qw3l]

My mom's first cousin was very much a uncle to me , his grandfather was Charlie Howieattle Head Chief of the Quileute tribe on the Olympic Penninsula in Washington state , he told me that his father brought him to the falls and watched the indians fish and talked about what great people lived there at the falls , God Bless you ALL , HOHRIVER number 1

[@DavidNunezPNW]

Growing up in The Dalles you always heard stories about the falls, this video really hits home how much it meant to the native people. They need to have their land back.

[@deschutesmaple4520]

What an excellent video. Very touching to listen to each person's memories of how Celilo once was. Just heartbreaking. I soooo wish for the Falls to come back! As crazy as it sounds, maybe there is a chance they will one day remove that horrible Dalles dam. They removed the Elwha river dam in WA state. If enough of us organize, anything is possible. Thank you for such an excellent video.

[@MatanuskaHIGH]

Deschutes Maple they removed marmot damnon the sandy river outside Portland and the salmon and steelhead are already rebound being able to move freely without a single damn it their way now.

[@antiejan]

This would be a massive project, of course. Observing the destruction of the Elwha dams, I really think any more take downs should be done on a slower schedule in order to protect the river course and ocean beaches from the incredible amount of sediment and washout.

[@johnadams5245]

@@antiejan you are wrong there, we need beaver dams and that will not have to happen
also beaver dams protect from widfire and drought and flood prottection

[@johnadams5245]

i agree!

[@antiejan]

@@johnadams5245 Am I wrong about taking a slower approach to the take down of dams? There was incredible washout that buried the seabeds at the Elwha. Then you said you agree. I'm wondering what you agree about since you said I was wrong. Just a little confused I guess.

[@rdigger57]

I want to share this with as many people as I can. This is history. Many young people do not know about this. Non-indians, and indians alike, need to be educated about this piece of history so that we can work together, instead of trying to wipe each other out. if you believe this please re-post on your page. I thank you in advance.

[@blackholeentry3489]

In the summer of 1956, my younger brother and I took a motorcycle trip and spent a night on a small bluff near the building site of the 'new' dam which was being erected at the time. (I was 16) I did not realize just how noisy it was with all of the construction equipment hammering all night long and until we were settled into our sleeping bags.... bottom line....neither one of us had much sleep that long night.

[@YungSteambuns]

The falls were beautiful and I'm glad there is video/pictures to capture its history instead of just paintings. I never saw the falls nor did I know they existed until today, even though I've been driving through the gorge for over 20yrs. Not once have I been told about them oddly enough. But I will say the dams have helped advance civilization greatly, some beautiful things must go for the greater good.

[@Tina-uf7cq]

Thank you so much for sharing this video!

[@leyvart]

We can always destroy the Dam and get the Falls back.

[@donparks8370]

I have lived near the river for 64 years it's so sad to think under the water there's a away of life gone forever ,very sad i saw a lady with a tato said wagon burner, amen a nice person but sad

[@gatheringthestories4973]

Thank you for this share.

[@irwintyler9357]

Thank you for sharing

[@ernestedwards4073]

Thanks this video

[@SpedisOwl]

Thanks for keeping the memories. One day, year, decade, century the dames will be gone.

[@64slugirl]

This saddens my heart.

[@user-ho2pf5mj5g]

❤ Linda

[@jamesparks3504]

In the future we will be mourning Salmon in this video as well as the falls.
Maybe in a thousand years we may see the falls again, but once the Salmon are gone, they're gone.

[@SidewaysBurnouts]

one of many, hechechy, alma under lexington, many native places ruined by dams.

[@johnadams5245]

we need to knock down this stupid damn and bring in beaver dams

[@dundonrl]

The benefits of the Columbia river dams FAR outweighs the negatives they brought by being built! A great example is the power they provided for the aluminum smelters in WW2 to build aircraft to fight the Japanese.

[@user-ho2pf5mj5g]

Vidi aquam... 😢

[@sandral.414]

There is a chance it will come back.

[@lisyzepetozepeto1052]

wow um lering celio falls thx for give me nonfiction

[@user-ho2pf5mj5g]

Palmer, Thompson, Chamberlain... 🦌🌳🪶🪶

[@sauvageaux]

... and pictograph gorge.

[@peterdorn5799]

take out Dalles dam, return Cello falls

[@sauvageaux]

[@user-ho2pf5mj5g]

🇻🇦

[@Hofkicks]

Bring these falls back and find another solution

[@user-ho2pf5mj5g]

Johnson

[@fxtwagn]

"The Dalles" is the name of the town and the name of the dam. UofO get it right. "The Dalles" people. Not the city/dam "Dalles". Simple huh.

[@sauvageaux]

Petroglyph gorge???

[@sluttyboy69]

First city in the world 🌎