The Celilo Fish Committee was formed and run by representatives from the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and unenrolled river chiefs to govern fishing along the Columbia river in 1935 until 1957. They settled disputes among fishermen, protected Indian fishing rights, and regulated fish use by operating in a court-like manner. The Committee's power to settle these disputes came from the respect of the members involved. Collectively, the committee's twelve members shared responsibility for protecting and administering Indian fishing, promoting law and order at the fisheries, and prioritizing subsistence fishing ahead of commercial fishing. The Great Depression brought many challenges to the Celilo Ind