Spring signaled the return of food for the Wal'waama (the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce). The first roots began to appear, and most important, the salmon returned. The sockeye runs in the Wallowa River were heavy, teeming with at the promise of health and wealth for the Wal'waama in the coming year. Tribes from throughout the region traveled here to trade for fish. the flesh of the sockeye was perfectly suited to drying, allowing the preserved salmon to be transported to distant tribes, and traded for items unique to other places.
Salmon was more than food. In tribal literature, the salmon was the first creature to present itself for human substance. Then, as now, the people honor it for its sacrifice.
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