Art forms of pictographs (paintings) and petroglyphs (rock drawings) are common along the Snake River and in the Columbia Gorge. Colors for pictographs were created from different minerals. Iron oxide produced red, specific clay produced white, copper oxide produced blue-green, charcoal and manganese oxide produced black.

Minerals were pounded into powder and mixed with a liquid-water, blood, fat, plant juice, eggs, or even urine was used. Rock surfaces were painted with their fingers or brushes of animal hair, twigs or feathe

Petroglyphs are rock engravings made by pecking or abrading. These petroglyphs at Buffalo Eddy are in remarkable condition. Pecking uses a hard stone to slowly jab away portions of the rock surface or abrading the surface with another harder stone.

The purpose of the rock drawings is unknown. Some archaeologists believe they were done for religious ceremonies and others say they are a record of Indian history.

Native Americans passed their history along orally. Many histories and stories are told today, but a lot have been lost. Many stories are myth-like, taking place before the coming of people, and involving Coyote, a trickster, whose job was to make earth a safe place for the coming of people.

The Cascade Indians believed everything possesses a spirit power. All boys, and many girls, went on a spirit quest to find their spirit guide or helper. The youth went into the wilderness alone for several days-fasting, praying and dancing until their helper appeared. The helpers could be animal, plant or mineral. After the helper appeared, the youth returned to the village, ready to live life with a special direction.

A jet boat trip up the Snake River to Buffalo Eddy always refreshes my own sense of how we fit in time.