Wapato (mamptu- Kalapuyan) is a primary root crop of the Kalapuyans and Chinookans. It was probably the second most used food plant in the valley. There were vast fields of wapato in the “Portland” area where the plant grew in the sloughs, and marshes alongside the Columbia, in the Willamette Slough, and in the island … [Read more…]
The Willamette Valley Treaty Commission is created by the Congressional act of June 5, 1850, John P, Gaines, Beverly S. Allen and Alonzo A. Skinner appointed. They received notification about August 12, 1850 and were compensated at a rate of $8 a day and 10 cents a mile (10 cents a mile is quite good … [Read more…]
Some just asked me if I can see the camas tips now, to which I replied: Meaning, Yes! Camas is doing well at Minto-Brown, the majority of the camas grows in the open field and we are getting some good density in some areas. One stretch of the paths is under full tree overstory and … [Read more…]
This season looks to be a good camas season, plenty of moisture this winter should equate to fatter bulbs. We will see. But I was a bit put off last year when I discovered that Salem City Parks had mowed down the camas. I confronted them and they denied it. I had photo evidence and … [Read more…]
Recent work on correcting histories of settlers’ societies has been highly popular. The 2019 Exhibit at Five Oaks Museum, Washington County by Stephanie Littlebird Fogel (Grand Ronde) “This IS Kalapuyan Land” – with some help from me- has presented a way to respond to settler-derived histories in interesting and important ways. The issue at play … [Read more…]