Nancy Ives, principal cello of the Oregon Symphony and composer of and composer of “Celilo Falls: We Were There”

The Oregon Symphony is bringing a complicated moment in Oregon history to life next spring, thanks in part to support from an Oregon Cultural Trust grant.

“Celilo Falls: We Were There” uses poetry, photography and music to tell the story of the waterfalls in Celilo, Oregon, that were destroyed in the 1950s during the construction of the Dalles Dam. Celilo Falls had been a fishing site central to Native American life for more than 15,000 years.

Nancy Ives, the Symphony’s principal cellist, composed the piece in collaboration with poet Ed Edmo and photographer Joe Cantrell. The Portland Chamber Orchestra gave “Celilo Falls” a well-received premiere in 2022, and the version for full orchestra promises to be even more ambitious: both musically (the Symphony boasts roughly 80 full-time musicians) and through its community impact.

Will Preston, the symphony’s foundation and corporate relations director, says there are plans for presentations of “Celilo Falls” in native communities around Oregon.

“It’s not enough to simply perform this work at the Schnitz in downtown Portland,” says Preston. “We’re optimistic that this can be the foundation for similar types of events and performances in the future.”

Story by Max Tapogna