Category: eastern oregon

columbia river, coos bay, eastern oregon, General History, Kalapuya, Native Issues, Oregon indians, Rogue Valley, Siletz Reservation, treaties, Umpqua Valley, Willamette Valley1 Comment

The Original 1855 Belden Map, Compared to the Redrafted Version

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1855, the United States was on a campaign to purchase all of the land from the Oregon Tribes and remove them to reservations. Joel Palmer, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, was working hard to make all arrangements for the removal of the tribes. In January of 1855, he met with the Kalapuya, Molalla and Cascades chiefs and they signed onto the Willamette Valley Treaty. By January 22nd, all of the tribes were signed for the Willamette Valley,  the Cascades foothills, and the central section of the lower Columbia River. The treaty was sent to Congress and was ratified … Continue reading The Original 1855 Belden Map, Compared to the Redrafted Version

columbia river, eastern oregon, General History, Native Issues, Oregon indians, Uncategorized, Willamette ValleyLeave a comment

Alexander Phimister Proctor in Oregon

David G. Lewis, PhD

Alexander Phimister Proctor (1860-1950), is born in Canada and becomes one of the most famed American sculptors of his time. He worked extensively in the American West and especially in Oregon. He studied in France under the Master Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and thereafter sought to exemplify the traditional philosophy of his teacher of Simplicity, Nobility, and Dignity.  The other major influence was Proctor’s personal experiences in the American West. He first travels to Montana in 1897 and again in 1914 to capture images of Native peoples in their natural state. Thereafter, Proctor gains a steady stream of commissions to produce … Continue reading Alexander Phimister Proctor in Oregon

columbia river, eastern oregon, General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, Rogue Valley, Siletz Reservation, Umpqua Valley, Willamette Valley3 Comments

Gifts for the Chiefs: Visitations to the Superintendent’s Office in Dayton

David G. Lewis, PhD

After the tribes were removed to the reservations and the treaties were ratified payments began to the chiefs. The tribal chiefs would get the annual payment to their tribes and would be responsible for doling out the money and supplies to their people. For some 20 years this was the pattern for leadership at the reservations. Between 1856 and 1861 Edward Geary was the Oregon Indian Superintendent. He had been Joel Palmer’s assistant but took over the position when Palmer was fired. Geary kept the Commissioner’s office at his house in Dayton where he lived near Palmer. At Geary’s house … Continue reading Gifts for the Chiefs: Visitations to the Superintendent’s Office in Dayton

columbia river, eastern oregon, General History, Native Issues, Oregon indians, treaties, UncategorizedLeave a comment

This Place is as My Heart: The 1855 Wasco-Deschutes Treaty

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1855, Joel Palmer met with the Wasco and Deschutes tribes to convince them to sign the treaty and remove to the proposed Warm Springs Reservation. The chief of the tribes spoke powerfully about their love of their land, calling their fish, gathering and hunting places  like the parts of their heart. The tribes knew they had to move and get out of the way of the gathering horde of Americans. Palmer told then that the Americans had the privilege of claiming any lands except for the reservation. The Tribal chiefs assembled did not know much of the reservation lands … Continue reading This Place is as My Heart: The 1855 Wasco-Deschutes Treaty

columbia river, eastern oregon, General History, Native Issues, Oregon indians, treaties, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I Have Only One Talk: The Dog Rivers Refuse to Remove

David G. Lewis, PhD

At the June 1855 treaty meeting of the Deschutes, Wascoes, and Walla Wallas, there were also the Dog River Cascades. They are listed on the transcript as being there but apparently never spoke publicly at the gathering. Various letters by Palmer and others suggest that they remained on their lands for several years beyond the removal of The Dalles area tribes to Warm Springs. To this point there has been much confusion about what exactly happened to this tribe. Palmer states that the Dog Rivers refused to remove, and instead wrote about them in his report and letter of introduction … Continue reading I Have Only One Talk: The Dog Rivers Refuse to Remove