Drying Fish Above Fraser River

This historical photograph, titled “Indians Drying Fish ABOVE Fraser River,”

The photograph was captured circa the 1950s by photographer J.C. Walker. It was later distributed as a real photo postcard.

The scene is set along the steep banks of the Fraser River Canyon in British Columbia, where strong canyon winds provide ideal conditions for wind-drying fish.

The image documents First Nations fishers processing and preserving salmon. It shows a large, multi-tiered wooden scaffold construction (drying rack) built into the rocky cliffs above the rushing river, loaded with split salmon hung out to air-dry.

Cultural and Historical Significance

Ancient Tradition: For thousands of years, First Nations communities along the Fraser River have utilized these specific canyon locations to harvest and wind-dry salmon. This traditional preservation method creates “wind-dried salmon,” a crucial food source for winter sustenance and a major trade commodity among Indigenous nations.