Day 6

The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Columbia Cliffs

Day 6

            We begin our day leaving Celilo Village and head to the Dalles, Oregon where we visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. It’s a combination of Wasco County Museum and the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. We are introduced to Ranger Valerie who is the only government employee while everyone else is from a non-profit organization. Valerie explained the building was built to preserve historic information on the Columbia Gorge including Native American history and early settlers. The museum had a vast history of the gorge which included the ice age and how Native Americans could have been inhabits from Asia crossing the Ice Bridge to North America and headed south to pursue big game around 10,000 years ago. Hunters encounter big game like the Columbia Mammoth and Saber-Tooth Tiger. Those species went extinct shortly after the Ice Age ended and new species adapted to the new climate change. Natives used the Gorge as a fishing spot for some time and became a huge trading area like Celilo Village. We are also introduced to raptors that are common in the area like the Red-Tail Hawk, the American Kestrel, and the Great Horned Owl that feast on small prey. We are also shown 2 Bald Eagles that are in captivity because of disabilities that prevent them from surviving in the wild. Each raptor comes in different shapes and sizes that help them hunt in the wild.

            The second part of the day before we head towards Spokane, we stopped by the Columbia Cliffs to examine the petroglyphs left behind by Native American ancestors. They are similar to Egyptian hieroglyphs or cave art. Many art that inscribed represent wolves, coyotes, deer, rams, fish, and other animals. The one that stood out the most was “She Who Watches” which is an observer and guide for Native Americans to find a trading post. This is much as land to Native Americans as the Statue of Liberty is to us. Many Natives within our group told me that it is an omen to touch or disrespect She Who Watches. Also her art eerily looking "River Devil" looked a lot like Majora’s Mask which could have been an inspiration for Nintendo’s design. The site is very historic and important to Native Americans but they are becoming impacted by a nearby train tracks that transport coal. Surprisingly there is no cover to the coal and the dust is able to float and eventually damage historic significance. Local Natives are already taking action to help preserve the art but still the trains drive by uncovered and full of coal as we witnessed a passing train. Please stop by the Dalles and witness the petroglyphs before they are damaged beyond recognition.

THE RIVER DEVIL AND MAJOR'S MASK COMPARISON.

SHE WHO WATCHES