Standing in the Gap for Oregon

Stand at the crossroads and look;   Canemah at Willamette Falls, 1867 ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, a nd you will find rest for your souls.  Jeremiah 6:16   We’re looking at a tiny section of Oregon this time, not even a whole town. Canemah is particularly interesting because it has been a spot occupied for so long and gives us a glimpse into the very early history of our state.   Canemah, meaning “the canoe place” and now a district in Oregon City, was once a very important location for salmon fishing and trading among the Native Americans. It is located on the eastern bank of the Willamette River, just above Willamette Falls. Tolls could be charged for portage around the falls, and for this reason battles were fought among various tribes over the area, although it was under the control of the Kalapuya tribe most of the time.   While the Kalapuya had salmon, trading and tolls in the pre-fur trader days, giving t...