Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson

Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson [Transcript] Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson [Sound recording 01] Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson [Sound recording 02] Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson [Sound recording 03] Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson [Sound recording 04]

Identity elements

Reference code

SR 9586

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Collection

Title

Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson

Date(s)

  • circa 1971 (Creation)

Extent

0.1 cubic feet; 2 audiocassettes (2 hr., 1 min., 1 sec.) + transcript (47 pages)

Name of creator

(1898-1978)

Biographical history

Flora Cushinway Thompson, also named La moosh Cush-nee-yi, was born in 1898. In the 1940s, she and Tommy Thompson, leader of the Wyams, were married. She was active in the attempt to prevent the construction of The Dalles Dam. She died in 1978.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

This oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson was conducted around 1971. The interviewer is unidentified. The audio recording and transcript are incomplete; the interview was recorded on three cassettes, but the first tape is missing.

In this interview, Thompson discusses the execution of Modoc leader Kintpuash, aka Captain Jack. She then talks about salmon fishing by Native peoples at Celilo Falls, and about the slow encroachment of dams and commercial fishing at the falls. She speaks about her marriage to Wyam Chief Tommy Thompson and talks about their respective marital histories. She discusses the Wyams' resistance to the construction of The Dalles Dam; describes attending the dedication of the Celilo converter station; and talks about Tommy Thompson's funeral. She speaks at length about some of the Wyams' spiritual beliefs, particularly regarding visions and songs, and sings a Christian song in Sahaptin. She closes the interview by talking about her work advocating for the Wyams' fishing rights. The recording ends with piano music identified as "Indian Love Poem" by Nancy Walker.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

Copyright for this interview is held by the estate of Flora Cushinway Thompson. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Interview was conducted in English; song performed during interview is in Sahaptin.

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Immediate source of acquisition

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

Related descriptions

Publication notes

An article based on this interview, "Oregon Voices: Flora Cushinway Thompson," was published in Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. 108, No. 4, pages 680-685.

Notes element

General note

Preferred citation: Oral history interview with Flora Cushinway Thompson, SR 9586, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Specialized notes

Alternative identifier(s)

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition.

Sources used

Archivist's note

Sarah Stroman

Access points

Name access points

Accession area