The Battle for Celilo Falls: Yakima Indians Fight to Save Their Fishing Rights, 1951-01-01 - 1951-12-31

The Yakima Indians have fishing rights at Celilo Falls in the Columbia River that were guaranteed in a treaty with the United States in 1855. These rights are important to their culture, economy, and religion. The construction of the Dalles Dam threatens to flood out Celilo Falls and destroy the Yakima's fishing locations. The Yakima Nation has legal and moral rights to preserve their fishing locations, and the dam should be eliminated from the hydro-electric development program. The dam is considered necessary for power generation in the region, but the Yakima argue that there are alternative solutions to prevent power shortages without infringing on their rights.