Skip to main content

Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson

 Collection
Identifier: SR 9504

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson was conducted by Joan Arrivee Wagenblast in April 1966. Several unidentified people were also present. The interview was conducted as research for Wagenblast’s biography of Tommy Kuni Thompson, titled “Flora's song: a remembrance of Chief Tommy Kuni Thompson of the WyAms.” The audio recording is a digital copy made from Wagenblast's original reel tapes; the digital files were donated to the Oregon Historical Society Research Library by Wagenblast's daughter, Debra Arrivee, who retained the original tapes.

In this interview, Thompson discusses the family background and early life of Wyam Chief Tommy Thompson. She talks about the settlement that was negotiated by the U.S. government and the Warm Springs, Yakama, Umatilla, and Nez Perce tribes as compensation for the flooding of Celilo Falls; about the construction of the Wyams' new village after they were forced to relocate; and about Tommy Thompson’s resistance to the relocation. She talks about the wind rock, which was stolen; describes the Wyam salmon feast; and talks about the spiritual beliefs and practices of the Wyam. She describes how Tommy Thompson always kept copies of federal treaties with him; talks about his rules for salmon fishing; and discusses caring for Thompson at the end of his life. She discusses burial sites along the Columbia River that were moved before the flooding, and also names some white people who were buried at Native sites. She also talks about her children and grandchildren. She closes the interview by speaking about gathering berries in the Columbia River Gorge.

Dates

  • Creation: 1966 April

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Joint copyright for this interview is held by the estates of Flora Cushinway Thompson and Joan Arrivee Wagenblast. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Biographical note

Flora Cushinway Thompson, also named La moosh Cush-nee-yi, was born in 1898. In the 1940s, she and Tommy Thompson, leader of the Wyams, were married. She was active in the attempt to prevent the construction of The Dalles Dam. She died in 1978.

Extent

676 Megabytes (2 audio files (WAV, 1 hr., 7 min., 2 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson conducted by Joan Arrivee Wagenblast in April 1966. Thompson, whose husband was Wyam Chief Tommy Thompson, discusses the forced relocation of the Wyam people after the construction of The Dalles Dam flooded Celilo Falls.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Debra Arrivee, November 2008 (Lib. Acc. 26646).

Related Materials

An additional interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson, SR 9586, is also held by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Publication note

This interview was among the research material for "Flora's song: a remembrance of Chief Tommy Kuni Thompson of the WyAms," by Joan Arrivee Wagenblast.
Title
Guide to the oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson
Status
Completed
Author
Sarah Stroman
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository

Contact:
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240