Tag: allotment

Anthropology, General History, Grand Ronde ReservationLeave a comment

Influenza on the Reservation

David G. Lewis, PhD

The tribes removed to the Grand Ronde Reservation in 1856 never realized the safety and security of a reservation they were promised in seven treaties. They were forced into poverty, living on whatever the federal government was able to send to them from the east coast. The first years were full of starvation deprivation, and death as hundreds of traumatized people from more than 2 dozen tribes were forced to live in federal confinement. The tribes from the Rogue River area had been preyed upon for over a decade by white settlers and gold miners, and after having enough had … Continue reading Influenza on the Reservation

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Native Issues, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, Siletz Reservation, treaties, Willamette ValleyLeave a comment

Petition to Survey the Reservation and to Live in Peace, September 20, 1869

David G. Lewis, PhD

Previous essays have addressed the poor treatment of the tribes on the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation into the late 1860s. In 1869 during his inauguration speech, newly elected President U.S. Grant stated that he would support a path to citizenship for tribes that became civilized. (In this essay I will not quibble with the idea of civilization even though we can rightly question which people were proving to be civilized and which were proving to be lawless and uncivilized.) Indian Agents took notice of Pres. Grant’s statement, which amounted to a change in federal Indian policy and began to ask … Continue reading Petition to Survey the Reservation and to Live in Peace, September 20, 1869

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Native Issues, Oral History, Oregon indiansLeave a comment

John Wacheno on Fishing Rights and Land Inheritance, 1931

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1931, John Wacheno of Grand Ronde testified before a subcommittee from the Committee of Indian Affairs at Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon. The subcommittee is investigating conditions of the tribes and calls Wacheno late in the day. The two previous witnesses were Mrs. Sam Riggs from Grand Ronde and a witness from the Klamath tribe, a Mr. Meekham. Wacheno’s first concern is that the Natives at the Grand Ronde Reservation are not allowed to fish on the reservation. At least one boy was arrested by the state officers but apparently was not charged. This situation is quite odd … Continue reading John Wacheno on Fishing Rights and Land Inheritance, 1931

assimilation, colonization, General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Kalapuya, Native Issues2 Comments

Promise of Citizenship and Informal Allotment at the Grand Ronde Reservation

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1869 President Ulysses S. Grant gave a short inaugural address as he entered his presidency. The address briefly mentioned that he would support a path to citizenship for Native American peoples. “The proper treatment of the original occupants of this land–the Indians are deserving of careful study. I will favor any course toward them which tends to their civilization and ultimate citizenship.” (March 4, 1869) This short statement caused a storm of policy changes in the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The policy change enabled the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to direct his Superintendents to begin preparing the Indians on … Continue reading Promise of Citizenship and Informal Allotment at the Grand Ronde Reservation

assimilation, General History, Kalapuya, Oregon indians, Umpqua Valley, Willamette ValleyLeave a comment

They Were of Good Character and Industrious, Kalapuya and Umpqua Off-Reservation Allotments

David G. Lewis, PhD

Indian Off-Reservation Allotments Members of the Halo Family of Yoncalla Indians, were allotted with off-reservation Indian Allotments in 1892. Most of their allotments were in an areas covered by GLO maps 20S, 4W; 23S, 4W; and the vast majority in 22S 4W, a mountainous and hilly region of central-western Oregon, on the edge of the Calapooia Range. This area is the dividing range between the Willamette and Umpqua watersheds, within the original tribal territory of the Yoncalla Indians. The Fearns, as detailed below are the sons and grandchildren of Chief  Halo. This cluster of four families in the area between … Continue reading They Were of Good Character and Industrious, Kalapuya and Umpqua Off-Reservation Allotments