This morning, we had the opportunity to learn about the Nimiipuu, otherwise known as the Nez Perce.
The indigenous presenters shared stories of The People in the Lewis-Clark Valley, and about their initial encounter with the Corps of Discovery.
In particular, we learned of Watkuweis (often spelled Wetxuwiis) who was a Nez Perce woman who saved the Lewis and Clark Expedition from being killed by her tribe in September 1805 as they came down into the valley out of the Bitterroot Mountains. She had been kidnapped as a youth, but since she had been treated kindly by white settlers in Canada, she intervened on behalf of Lewis and Clark and their men, urging her Nimiipuu people to show mercy, saying, “These are the people who helped me. Do them no harm!”.
Eventually the “Friendship Treaty” was struck which was formalized by a handshake between Lewis & Clark and the Nez Perce people.
They also shared beautiful songs and dances, and told stories of how creation and humanity came to be.
After our time with the Nimiipuu, we then made our way to our ship, the American Encore of American Cruises Lines. The American Encore was literally christened yesterday, and we are a part of only the second group of passengers to travel on the ship. Can I just say that I have never been on a ship that still has a new ship smell? It’s similar to new car smell, but on a much larger scale.
We then spent the afternoon being immersed in the Lewis and Clark expedition and focused upon their activities that occurred on the portion of the rivers that we are currently traveling.
Another fascinating part of our travel is going through each of the locks and dams that are on the rivers. Each of these dams operate using technology that dates back to the Egyptians, but on a much larger scale.
We’ll be traversing a total of seven dams on our cruise, but four will be passed through during our first twelve hours of travel.
We also spent time getting settled into our room and acquainting ourselves with the ship in the midst of enjoying two absolutely fabulous gourmet meals at lunch and dinner.
Bottom line, we most definitely are having a much better time of it than Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery did who had to concern themselves with limited food and having to carry their 1,000 pound canoes and all their supplies across the many rapids that were on the river. These many rapids no longer exist because of the dam system, so no complaints on my part for sure!
Tomorrow’s stop is in Richland, Washington, home to the Sacajawea Interpretative Center, but also the Hanford Site. Hanford was a part of the Manhattan Project and eventually became responsible for creating the hydrogen bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in World War II.
After World War II, Hanford then transitioned into a nuclear production complex that subsequently produced all the plutonium for the Triton submarine missiles throughout the Cold War. Unfortunately, this created such massive nuclear waste that this area was eventually named a superfund cleanup site in 1989, and is still in the process of being cleaned up—and sadly, will probably never be fully contained.
Nuclear reactors line the riverbank at the Hanford Site along the Columbia River in January 1960. The N Reactor is in the foreground, with the twin KE and KW Reactors in the immediate background. The historic B Reactor, the world’s first plutonium production reactor, is visible in the distance.
A sober reminder that our actions do have consequences. And in the midst of the magnificent natural beauty around us, we always need to be mindful that without prudent consideration, consequences can have a harmful cost we fail to realize until it’s far too late.
The Richland port is also close enough to Pendleton, Oregon to make a day trip, so we will be heading there to check out a very unique place—one where Doolittle’s Raiders frequented—but will share about that tomorrow.
Until then, prayers and AMDG!
