Yakama Nation & Corps Discuss Celilo Settlement

This photograph of various representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was taken during negotiations for financial compensation arising from the inundation of fishing sites at Celilo Falls by the yet to be completed Dalles Dam. During negotiations, it was typical of the Yakama to outnumber the Army Corps. This photograph shows at least eleven tribal representatives, compared to six Army Corps counterparts.

Although discussions between the Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs, Nez Perce, unaffiliated Columbia River Indians, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began over the proposed construction of The Dalles Dam as early as 1945, the Army Corps did not enter into negotiations with the tribes in earnest until Congress failed to allocate construction funds for the dam in 1952. The delay was largely due to the Army Corps’ failure to make headway in resolving Indian claims to “usual and accustomed” fishing sites at Celilo Falls.