[2] The village was a common trading site for Indians in the surrounding areas,[3] acting as a link between tribes from the Pacific Coast, and the interior Northwest.

The site was visited by nearby Yakamas, as well as those from as far away as the Nez Perce, who would come to trade fish, berries, skins, buffalo, amongst many other items.

[5] By the time of the July 1841 visit by the United States Exploring Expedition, United States Navy Lieutenant Charles Wilkes described the village as having forty lodges, and 400 inhabitants.

Survivors of the epidemic blamed a "medicine-man" for failure to cure the disease, and killed him by putting him on a horse with a noose around his neck.

Until 1957, the village located at the site was referred to as Spearfish,[9] which was flooded by the creation of The Dalles Dam.