Indians have been a huge part of America's history. There have been hundreds of them, with tribes on the Columbia River. But, on the small and the dying Colville Reservation, there is only one resident still alive. The once beautiful and green reservation that backed up to the amazing and rushing Columbia is now covered in wrecked cars, washing machines, and parts of shattered furniture. When you enter you are welcomed with a “Drug, Alcohol, Suicide,” sign faded with rust on the ground. The single household on the reservation is a rusty old trailer that was home to the only resident on the reservation, Martin Louie Sr.
Martin Louie Sr. is eighty-six. He used to make a living spearing salmon in the upper Columbia before the Grand Coulee …show more content…
About a million salmon died every year after the opening of the Grand Coulee Dam. At the time the Colville Indians ate about 1 ⅓ pounds of fish every day. The Grand Coulee dam removed about 1,100 miles of salmon's natural spawning habitat. The Grand Coulee dam also flooded about 21,000 acres of Indians natural tribal grounds. Kettle Falls, which was once a main fishing ground for Indians was flooded. On average the Indians caught 600,00 fish a year from kettle falls. The Dam pretty much eliminated the Indians, natural way of …show more content…
But when the Dam opened and millions of fish died the Indians that were once fishermen now, had to find a new job. Many Indians went to work on the Dam, but also several couldn’t find a job at all. After the Dam opened it brought tragedy to the Colville Reservation. Multiple Indians committed suicide, while others drank their sorrows away, becoming alcoholics. To suffice for the lack of of fish, the government gave the Indians a small cans of fish that read “Pink Salmon”. Martin Louie Sr. speaks of receiving the can, labeled “Pink Salmon” saying “This is how you replaced our salmon! You guys took all my food!” (Martin Louie Sr. from “A River Lost”) Clearly furious, Louie showed a robust hate for the government and what they had done to him and his
Martin Louie Sr. is eighty-six. He used to make a living spearing salmon in the upper Columbia before the Grand Coulee …show more content…
About a million salmon died every year after the opening of the Grand Coulee Dam. At the time the Colville Indians ate about 1 ⅓ pounds of fish every day. The Grand Coulee dam removed about 1,100 miles of salmon's natural spawning habitat. The Grand Coulee dam also flooded about 21,000 acres of Indians natural tribal grounds. Kettle Falls, which was once a main fishing ground for Indians was flooded. On average the Indians caught 600,00 fish a year from kettle falls. The Dam pretty much eliminated the Indians, natural way of …show more content…
But when the Dam opened and millions of fish died the Indians that were once fishermen now, had to find a new job. Many Indians went to work on the Dam, but also several couldn’t find a job at all. After the Dam opened it brought tragedy to the Colville Reservation. Multiple Indians committed suicide, while others drank their sorrows away, becoming alcoholics. To suffice for the lack of of fish, the government gave the Indians a small cans of fish that read “Pink Salmon”. Martin Louie Sr. speaks of receiving the can, labeled “Pink Salmon” saying “This is how you replaced our salmon! You guys took all my food!” (Martin Louie Sr. from “A River Lost”) Clearly furious, Louie showed a robust hate for the government and what they had done to him and his