Historic Hood River
Teepee on the Shores of the Columbia
10-8-2018
Notes
This classic Gifford photogravure is a good choice for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. I wish we could see this teepee in color. I like to believe it was tie dyed, though I suspect the tonal gradation towards the top is more likely the result of soot from fires in the hearth.
L.E.
It looks like the long stick has a purpose.
Looking at the terrain you can see why firewood was at a premium when Lewis and Clark came through in October. They had trouble even buying firewood from the Indians.
Roger Sheldrake
Any guess as to which direction we are looking? 50/50 chance there. Telegraph poles in the background along which railroad? Arlen will know
Bill Seaton
I spent 2 summers living in a teepee and found it to be a very accommodating facility.
Arthur
Based on the shadows, we must be looking northerly. I’m guessing NNW in Oregon, looking to the Washington hills east of Horsethief Lake (near Celilo). Anyone recognize the hillside?
Buzz
Quite a conglomaration of poles they have used to hold up the tepee. I have no idea what is the purpose of the biggest round one. I heard of tepee creeping in my youth Bill, but have no idea what you did for two summers living in a tepee.
Arlen Sheldrake
Buzz….is "tepee creeping" something like "cow tipping"?
Longshot
Looks like a pack saddle laid up against the facing side of the teepee and something resembling a jack stand off to the right.
The cliffs to the right are in the shadows and the sun appears to be low in the sky. This would imply to me that these cliffs may be on the south side of the river.
I would not think the heavier poles would be moved if and when the teepee was, but maybe the thinner poles would have been.
Charlott
My thought is that this is probably those that traveled from some distance to fish for a time at Celilo. The Indians, from what I understand that actually lived on the river had more in the way of "bark" shanties or cabin like structures.
Kenn
I believe looking north to the Wishram hills. I assume a very temporary location being this close to the river and no smoke flap for bad weather ~
Longshot
I believe that the plains Indians tended to point the door of their teepees toward the east. No clue as to any of the more local Indians who might have used teepees.
Longshot
I am going to guess that the mouth of the Deschutes River is just out of the picture to the left and that the poles in the distance are for the communication wires for the railroad that ran up the Deschutes. Today the I-84 would be in the picture.
Arthur
Longshot, I’m reading the shadows differently. There are several objects leaving clear shadows on the bottom of the tent indicating the sun is behind us to the right.
I think we’re just at sunrise so the sun hasn’t fully illuminated the bluffs on the Washington side, but it’s we’re looking northerly with the sun rising over our right shoulder. The tent and the subjects face are well-lit.
L.E.
My first thought was that she was on the Washington side of the river, in the area of today’s John Day Dam. In the area that used to be called Cliffs.
We are looking north and the river is behind us.
But I am not sure the hill there is solid rock, like the one in this photo.
It will be interesting if someone gets the location mystery solved.
Buzz
Think Arthur is right. With opening aimed downriver to keep the east wind in the summer from keepng their tepee from going airborne.
Debra Courtier
There use to be teepees at Wyath. Gone now because of governor Browns bike and hiking trail. Ruining the gorge. Wiping out the Indians were here first. Makes me sad.
Pat A
One of Giffords 1899 series.
This is just east of Biggs Jct.
I believe this teepee is visible in the (Sea of sand) photo on the right near the waterline.
I know the spot and the shadows, that hillside is dark except for early or late in the day around summer solstice. This is late in the afternoon.
The early railroad tracks ran next to bank here to Rufus trying to avoid the river and sand dunes, that is why the telegraph poles are in the background.
I graduated with the gal that grew up there on the cliff above.