Community Description of Life Near the Grand Coulee Dam
Describe your community:
Geography?
Really hot -arid desert -like sagebrush 4 seasons -snows in winter
Nespelem -right on timberline
River -Columbia River, Banks Lake and Lake Roosevelt are both man
made
Population?
5 towns -couple ( probably more than this) hundred to a couple
thousand? (depends on town) Lots of tourists ( thousands)
3,000
Community history, legends?
Chief Joseph is buried in Nespelem Colville Tribe - (about 11
different bands) Reservation right by dam (the Arrow lakes used to
migrate up to Canada)
Myth about building the dam - dead bodies in the cement
Dam built in the 30's - 40's -towns settled at same time, 2nd or
3rd largest dam in the world. Enough cement in the dam to build a
sidewalk ( or double lane highway?) around the world? Across U.S.?
To California?
What does it value?
The lake, recreation, tourism, education
Colvilles -hunting and fishing rights, other tribal rights
Native American Museum -how they lived, what they did
..there is the Grand Coulee Dam museum
How do people find out information in your community?
What is the biggest weekly event?
No weekly events
What is the biggest annual Event?
Colorama (biggest) -parade in May (around Mother's Day?)
rodeo,
flea market, carnival, fairground.
Dam Run -August 5k-10k Memorial Day -light show starts, big flea
market
Nespelem -has a 4th of July Powwow with mud wrestling
What is the history of the annual event?
Colorama started with laser light show -week long
(colored lights
on dam)
Note: no older events because no community existed before the dam.
Who participates? Do you go to this? Does your family?
Everybody goes. With family, with friends on different
days.
Are their traditions or legends behind the event?
Probably
How do you find out about it the event?
Can't miss it -signs, banners, radio and newspaper ads
(local
radio stations -country and oldies)
No local TV -get TV from Spokane.
Is there someone you know personally who organizes the event?
Anybody can get involved