Our first full day of cruising was spent traveling east along the Columbia River near the town of Umatilla and the Horse Heaven Hills. Throughout the Columbia and Snake river systems, the Sea Bird moves along a waterway that was once the home, roadway and larder to thousands of Indian Nations. This region is referred to as the Plateau Region. It encompasses Indian tribes that live between the Cascade and Rocky mountain ranges. This large region is located in eastern British Columbia, Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, a small portion of western Montana, Idaho and northern California.

Lewis and Clark traveled through this area some 195 years ago, almost to the day, and related that from twenty miles away they could smell the Indian villages, the scent of sun dried salmon drifting on the prevailing winds!

Today, remnants of those same Native peoples still live on nearby lands. Since the 1860's the women of many of the Plateau groups including the Umatillas are famous in the Pacific Northwest for their detailed and finely executed beadwork. Many of these elaborate designs have changed since contact with white settlers. From the early geometric designs to the more modern flower patterns, these deer skin beaded pieces are still much sought after by Indian ladies. These women may be adding to their traditional dancing regalia, while collectors passing through the Plateau area, both native and non-native, often seek to purchase the intricate beadwork, and obtain the stories that are told by the original designer. As yet another piece of beadwork changes hands, it takes its history to many far-flung corners of the world.