Hells Canyon, North America's deepest river gorge, separating Idaho and Oregon, provided a vibrant cultural intersection for thousands of years for Native Americans from many Northwest tribes. Indian people relied on the fertile Snake River chasm for hunting, fishing, gathering, and trade and, for some, a winter home. This 15-minute film conveys the value of cultural resources from the Native American perspective. Interviews with tribal elders, breathtaking scenic landscapes including significant archaeological resources, and a Native American musical score combine to present the message of preservation and cross-cultural understanding.

During the production of the film, tribal elders, whose ancestors had used the canyon for many generations, were invited to join the filmmakers on a jet boat journey to the middle of the Canyon. On a terrace several feet above the river, and in front of a long, pictograph covered basalt wall, lawn chairs were spread out around a fire ring brought in for the day. The elders, many of whom had never been into the Canyon, sat in their chairs around the fire and told stories about their people who had once been here.

Hells Canyon is a 70-mile-long cultural site, located in some of the most rugged, remote, and inaccessible terrain in the country. The River Has Many Stories raises the awareness of the significant cultural value of the Canyon and helps to protect it for generations to come.

This film may be seen in its entirety at: archaeologychannel.org then select The River Has Many Stories.