Moving up the line: Northwest tribal women and girls gather wild celery amid challenges

Around this time each year, women and girls from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation gather wild celery. They say their ancestors come back through the plant, and the ceremonial dig marks the arrival of spring.

Off a remote highway in northeast Oregon, 16 women and girls get ready to dig for wild celery.

They take a few last sips of hot coffee and tea, and grab their metal digging tools from their trucks.

“So if we’re all ready, we all need to line up,” says Trish McMichael, one of the leaders.

I first started reporting on the Umatilla Confederated Tribes around 20 years ago. As the group lines up from youngest to oldest on this cold, sunny morning, I notice some missing faces – mostly the elders who used to lead.