How did Plateau communities catch and preserve salmon for winter food?

For the Plateau Indian communities, fishing was the most vital source of food, as rivers provided an abundance of salmon, trout, and other fish.1

Catching Salmon

Communities employed several effective methods to harvest fish:
* Tools: They used one- or three-pronged fish spears, nets, and various traps.1
* Weirs: Groups built and maintained large fish weirs—stone or wooden enclosures designed to "corral" the catch.1

Preserving for Winter

To ensure a stable food supply during the winter months, Plateau peoples utilized a preservation process centered on drying:
* Drying: Substantial quantities of the harvested fish were dried on elevated wooden racks.1

This reliance on salmon, alongside other wild foods like camas bulbs and berries, allowed these groups to sustain relatively dense populations in permanent riverside villages.12