Wasco-Wishram

The Wishram and Wasco are Plateau tribes that are closely related and share many cultural aspects of the Northwest Coast tribes. They lived along the banks of the Columbia River, near The Dalles. The Dalles were a prime trading location, and the tribes benefited from a vast trade network. Unfortunately, the 19th brought non-Indians and European diseases, which took a great toll on the Wasco and Wishram populations. Both tribes were forced by the United States in 1855 to sign treaties ceding the majority of their lands. These treaties established the Warm Springs Reservation.^[1]WascoWishramWishram petroglyphs on the Columbia River

The Wishram are known as the Tlakluit and Echeloot. They traditionally settled in permanent villages along the north banks of the Columbia River. In the 18th century, the estimated Wishram population was 1,500. In 1962 only 10 Wishrams were counted on the Washington census.^[1]

Fishing rights

The 1855 treaties signed by the Wasco-Wishram provide for the tribes to fish "at all ... usual and accustomed stations in common with the citizens of the United States..." Between 1938 and 1956, the Bonneville Dam, Grand Coulee Dam, and The Dalles Dam all wreaked havoc upon native fisheries. The government paid money to the tribes to compensate the loss of fish; however, that provided no compensation for the cultural and religious importance that fishing for salmon and steelhead held for the tribe. In 1974 a landmark court case confirmed the rights of Northwest Coast tribes to fish as they have historically done.^[1]

Wasco comes from the word, Wacq!ó, which means "cup" or "small bowl," which refers to a distinct bowl-shaped rock near the tribe's primary historical village. They traditionally lived on the south sides of the Columbia River. In 1822, their population was estimated to be 900.^[2]