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 Between
the Cascade Mountains and the Rocky Mountains is a dry, undulating
plain that varies from grassland to scrubland. The area also includes
mountains, canyons, and rivers. The people of this area developed
a lifestyle that took advantage of the wealth of foods that were
available in this diverse landscape.
Traditionally the people of the plateau moved
in a seasonal cycle, gathering the foods as they came into season:
roots, salmon, berries, and game. Their homes were a movable tipi
made of tule reeds. Tule reeds are a tall, tough reed that grows
in marshy areas. Houses made from these reeds were lightweight and
waterproof.
The arrival of horses in the mid 1700's broadened
travel and trade. The grass on the plateau was excellent for raising
horses and several tribes became known for their horses, including
the Cayuse who developed Cayuse ponies.
The local trade network was extensive. From the
coast to the west, the plains to the east, and deserts to the south,
people came to the Dalles on the Columbia River to trade.
Contact with Europeans and Americans at first
brought new trade items, which were welcomed. The initial trickle
of explorers and trappers posed little threat. But the flood of
emigrants eventually overwhelmed the local people. The Treaty of
1855 placed the original inhabitants on specified reservations.
The people of the Columbia Plateau still live
between the Cascades and the Rockies. Their lives are a mixture
of the modern and the traditional. Cultural centers are reviving
traditional practices and skills and the tribes have created museums
to help others understand their culture and their history.
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