https://www.nrdc.org/stories/celilo-wyam-are-still-here
My father and mother took me to Celio Falls, the first time in 1949 after we returned from Panama, where my mother and father were working on the Panama Sea-level Canal Studies after my father left the Navy in 1946.
My father was stationed at the Clayton Military Base in the former Panama Canal Zone, during WW2. Interestingly, it in the sameplace, now called the City of Knowledge. where we established the Four Worlds Foundation, in 2009.
From their days at the Haskell Indian School, in Lawrence, Kansas, my parents had lifetime friendships with many tribes and nations, who attended Haskell.
After graduating from Haskell, at 17, my father hitchhiked, with his Haskell roommate, Boots La Course, to Uncle Boot's Umatilla Tribe, outside Pendleton, Oregon. Through Uncle Boots, and other Haskell classmates from the Northwest, I always felt welcome in any Native Community my parents and I visited, or I visited in the Northwest.
In fact, I have felt at home in every Indigenous community I have ever visited. As well, as we know, there are always challenges.
So the three years we traveled to Cielo Falls before it was flooded by the Dallas Dam. I was filled with great excitement and happiness to see it all up close, as a young boy, as we were able to go where family went and not the public.
It was something to see and to hear the roaring sounds, as the water passed through the very rugged falls. Elder' 80-90 would have their dip net, and would be tied to the wooden framework to save them if they fell in.
I remember hearing that included going to sleep and falling in. Everyone was involved. It was really something "wondrous" to behold and experience.
These doorways were opened at Haskell Indian Boarding. While Haskell was very military-like, haircuts and uniforms, they had a tremendous athletic tradition in most all sports.
In terms of the Cultural and Physical carried out in Church-run Canadian Indian Boarding Schools, and in US Church run schools like Marty Indian School, on my Ihanktonwan homeland,
from my best understanding, gained from my parents and others who attended Haskell, there Is no comparison with Church Run Schools.
Yes, there are more than 200 children that did not make it home, but all thier graves are marked with their name, age and tribe and thier resting place is well taken are of.
More to the story, but I will put a bookmark here. Please enjoy reading this wonderful story about Cielo Falls and Elder Lana Jack.