The inundation of part of Celilo Village necessitated the relocation of thirty-six families from the fishing community. Congress approriated funds to cover the cost of new homes (up to $4,700) and the wages of Barbara MacKenzie, who oversaw relocation. MacKenzie recognized that, as an outsider, she would not have much clout with Celilo residents. She enlisted the help of Flora Cushinway Thompson and formed a committee comprised of local whites and Celilo representatives to rule on who was eligible for relocation funds.
Residents had to provide proof of their year-round residency, a requirement that ignored the tradition of seasonal rounds in which many Indians participated. Moreover, Wasco county officials used relocation as an opportunity to dismantle the village which they had long considered an eyesore. Residents who agreed to relocate at least ten miles from Celilo Village were compensated an additional $500. With the loss of their fishery, many Indians moved from Celilo Village to find work elsewhere. The residents who remained were often the elderly, leaving one observer to note that those who stayed were “old people or widows with school age children.”
