Confluence

A new children’s book by Warm Springs Elder Linda Meanus is hitting shelves this June, entitled My Name is LaMoosh. Linda grew up with her grandma Flora Thompson and grandpa Chief Tommy Thompson near Celilo Falls, a mighty fishery on the Columbia flooded in 1957 by the construction of The Dalles Dam. Linda persevered through this historic trauma and life’s challenges to teach young people about the Indigenous ways of the Columbia River. Intended for young readers to learn more about Native American history through a first-hand account, the book also reminds them that Indigenous people maintain a cultural connection to the land and river that gave them their identity. In today’s episode, we talk to Linda as well as Dr. Katy Barber (PSU) who supported her in this project.

For several years Confluence has gathered oral history interviews on an event known as the Redheart Memorial. It's an annual commemoration in Vancouver, Washington, to honor the suffering of the Redheart Band, who the US Army imprisoned in 1877.

Over the years, the Redheart memorial has evolved and deepened. In today’s episode, we’re going to hear from three Nez Perce Tribal members: Jeffery Scott, Clendon Allen, and Danae Wilson. You’ll hear them talk about the healing this memorial brings, despite the tragedy it commemorates.

Over the years, the Redheart memorial has evolved and deepened. In today’s episode, we’re going to hear from three Nez Perce Tribal members: Jeffery Scott, Clendon Allen, and Danae Wilson. You’ll hear them talk about the healing and happiness this memorial brings, despite the tragedy it commemorates.

Canoe culture has been integral to the Columbia River system’s Indigenous people since time immemorial. And Tribal canoes are still on the water today. In this episode of the Confluence Podcast, we hear from Brian Krehbiel and Bobby Mercier of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Sam Robinson of the Chinook Indian Nation, Jefferson Greene of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and Tsali Cross and Jacelyn Lowley of the Portland All Nations Canoe Family. Tsali Cross is Cherokee and Caddo and Jacelyn Lowley is Couer d'Alene and Colville. Together, they all talk about their connection to the river, to canoes, and the importance of keeping Indigenous cultures alive today.

On today’s episode, you’re going to hear something most people never get a chance to hear—extended excerpts of stories in a traditional Native language of the Northwest, specifically the Nimiipuu, or Nez Perce people. We’ll listen to Harry Slickpoo Jr. who is a traditional storyteller and member of the Nez Perce Tribe.

In this episode, we talk with Patsy Whitefoot. She’s an elder from the Yakama Nation, a well known leader in education circles, an activist, and a Confluence board member. oday she talks about the Columbia River system, her experience with it, and the importance of reciprocity.

In November 2022, Confluence launched a new publication. Voices of the River journal features articles, stories, poetry and artwork by Native American writers and artists from Northwest Tribes. Confluence and its supporters celebrated the release of the inaugural issue of the journal during a launch party and panel discussion on November 18, 2022 at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, which is shared here in podcast format. Speakers include Rachel Cushman (Chinook), Chance White Eyes (Oneida), Emily Washinee (Yakama), and Sean Smith (Chinook).

Historians, like Alice in her Adventures in Wonderland, tend to fall down rabbit holes. At least that’s what it feels like sometimes, getting lost in research into one period or people or historical event. In this episode of the Confluence podcast, we hear from a group of historians musing on their experiences going down rabbit holes in their study of Indigenous history. The conversation was moderated by historian Emily Washines, a member of the Yakama Nation, along with Gonzaga University Native American Studies Director Laurie Arnold and Coll Thrush, Professor of History at the University of British Columbia. This conversation was originally held at the Pacific Northwest History Conference in 2022, at the Confluence Story Circles.

In this episode of Confluence Podcast, we hear from Antone Minthorn, a respected Elder and leader from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. In this episode, Antone discusses tribal governance, what the tribal economy means for the wider community, and the role of treaties today.

In this episode, we’re reaching into the Confluence Library to hear an interview with Tony Johnson, the Chairman of the Chinook Indian Nation. He describes how his Tribe has been working for decades to win federal recognition and what it means to him to be Chinook.

In this installment of the Confluence podcast, storyteller Ed Edmo (Shoshone Bannock), photographer Joe Cantrell (Cherokee) and composter Nancy Ives who talked about their new symphony called “Celilo Falls We Were There.” Conductor Yaki Bergman was also at the event but as he was there via zoom, the mic did not pick up his audio. For the symphony Ed paired his poetry with Nancy Ives music and projected photographic images by Joe Cantrell. “Celilo Falls We Were There” explores the geologic and human history of Celilo Falls, and how when The Dalles Dam flooded the Falls in 1957 Indigenous people lost not only their livelihoods but their cultural and spiritual home since time immemorial.