Day Five:

We visited Celilo Falls and we were lucky enough to stay at the long house where the tribe celebrate their Sunday service. Paul Lumlui whom is the executive director since 2009 talked to us about the promise the government gave to the Celilo Falls people which was if they were to allow the government to put up a Dam they would receive more Salmon but they lied there were actually less Salmon, the Dam reduces it by 50% the Dam also contaminated the water which used to be so clean the Celilo people would just drink right from it but know they have to be careful, its also contaminating the fish which is killing the fish. Now that the Celilo people know that the government lied to them they have been trying to take the Dam down or either have them clean the Columbia River, 14 members of the Yakama Nation filed a suit against Oregon and it went to the Supreme Court, when the Yakama Nation finally won the government they rebuilt their homes with garages for their boats and a new community center including a long house which were all built ten years ago.
In 1969 Judge Belloni, in Sohappy v. Smith/U.S v. Oregon (Belloni decision), ruled that the tribes were entitled to a "fair share" of the fish runs and the state is limited in its powers to regulate treaty Indian fisheries. the state may only regulate when "reasonable and necessary for conversation". further, state conversations regulations must not discriminate against the Indians and must utilized the least restrictive means necessary and I also never knew that Natives did not have to get a fishing license, they were already born with their right to fish, mainly Salmon because it is on their top 7 foods that the Creator supplied them with.

The tribe has its own law enforcement commissions from each of the four member tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to commemorate the occasion, a special intertribal oath emphasizing tribal sovereignty and service to the tribes was administered to all officers. I learned that the nation is looking for more native interns/employees because most of them are white and they want them to be more of their people and its called Work Force Development. when I heard Jeremy Garcia's story I was touched because he really didn't believe in himself or in his future and look at him now, he wants to major in psychology and motivate kids especially native kids to go to college and become something  I think that's beautiful.