Indians Fear No White Interference

Editor's Note: A photo was shared on the "I'm from Condon, Oregon" Facebook page by Debbie Pappas. Jamie Burns correctly identified the photo from a 1948 meeting in Condon. The photo shows four Native Americans outside of the Condon Globe-Times. We tracked down the original photo and article – from the March 5, 1948 edition of The Condon Globe-Times.

"Since the Wy-um or Celilo tribe and Pa-wan-putt or Rock Creek tribe of Indians have organized in order to protect their fishing rights at Celilo, we feel free from interference from the white people," stated the First Chief 83-year-old Tommy Thompson, when in Condon Saturday in regards to the new Indian organization.

"We do fear the Yakima Indian Tribal council as this is the tribe that is now approaching us with their laws and orders being established at the Yakima reservation," Chief Tommy Thompson said. "I have been chief of Wy-um since 1914 – away before any laws and orders or tribal regulations in any reservation. Since the reservation Indians came to fish in common with us Columbia River Indians, I was the head man to set up the customs, rules and regulations which my people have approved.

"Since the three superintendents of the three reservations organized the Fish committee at Celilo, that's the organization which tries to make laws and orders and has disrecognized me as the head chief, but yet I am recognized the head chief by my people of the Columbia andw there is this record in Washington, D.C."