he main village of the Wishram people was located here. The tribe called their home Nix lui dix, "the trading place." The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped here on their way to the Pacific Ocean in 1805, and again while eastbound in 1806.

In April 1806, the explorers witnessed a very special tradition of the tribes of this region - the annual coming of the salmon celebrated in the First Fish Ceremony. Clark wrote, "one of those fish was cought...and being divided into Small pieces was given to each Child in the village."

This stretch of the Columbia River, between Celilo Falls and the Short and Long Narrows, was a thriving fishery. Tribes from throughout the West came to fish, trade and socialize. The long stretch of whitewater provided ideal sites for fishing the millions of salmon swimming upstream fresh from the sea.