The Methow Indians were the first to settle this area. Although they moved frequently in summer to take advantage of foods such as berries, deer, and roots, they usually wintered less than one mile from the mouth of the Methow River, which they called xantci’n, meaning little rock gate. The river was an important salmon fishery, and they used weirs to block most of the river with fencing and force fish through a small opening where they could be caught, then smoked or dried. Horses were introduced in this area around 1730. In 1811, the local Indians talked with and assisted David Thompson, the first white explorer, and also provided him with horses. About 50 Indian lodges were in the Pateros area when Lee Ives arrived in 1886. In the late 1800’s, a newspaper account noted Captain Joe, Pinto Tom, Sam Miller, Old Narrsiciss, and Crooked Mouth Bob in Pateros.