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14spirit of the fatherOutstretched arms passed the first salmon up the riverbank to acrackling fire pit. Practiced hands painstakingly separated flesh fromthe spinal column. The meat, secured to skewers, cooked high abovea steadily burning fire. A mix of cedar and smoke wafted through theair. The intricacies of the ceremony are recalled in Uncommon Controversy:Fishing Rights of the Muckleshoot, Puyallup, and NisquallyIndians: “It is then parceled out to all, in small morsels or portions soall can participate. Doing this, all bones are saved intact. Then in atorchbearing, dancing, chanting, and singing procession, they proceededto the river where they cast the skeleton of the salmon into thestream with its head pointing upstream, symbolic of a spawningsalmon, so the run of salmon will return a thousand-fold.” Thesalmon blanketed the river upon their return from the sea. Therewere so many fish, the Nisqually could cross the river on their backs.But a quarter century before Gramps was born, thunderous stormclouds gathered. The bright light of the Nisqually way of life dimmed.Gramps felt that he was there watching through the thick trees. That’show often his father told him the story.Gray skies settled overhead and held the region in its predictablydrizzly state. Isaac Stevens—fiery, smart, and full of zeal—prepared for an unprecedented land deal.At thirty-five, Stevens had survived a harrowing past. Born thethird child of seven, he was so fragile as an infant that his parentsfeared he might not survive. Mild pituitary dwarfism accounted forhis large head and his shorter legs. Stevens stood roughly five feettall. His keen intelligence complemented his commanding presence.Stevens had graduated first in his class at the U.S. Military Academyat West Point. President Franklin Pierce rewarded Stevens for hispolitical support by appointing him Washington territorial governorand superintendent of Indian Affairs. The Massachusetts-bornStevens had never before set foot in Washington, nor had he acquiredmuch knowledge of Northwest Indian tribes. But he never lacked forambition.