Tag: anson dart

columbia river, treaties, Washington Territory1 Comment

Waukikum Treaty of 1851

David G. Lewis, PhD

Treaty between the Waukikum tribe and the United States, negotiated by Anson Dart, Superintendent of Indian Affairs. The treaty negotiations at Tansey Point on the Columbia River were all arranged by Robert Shortess who was appointed special subagent. Dart was assisted by Henry Spalding agent, and Josiah Parrish sub-agent. The treaty was among 19 treaties negotiated by Dart and the Willamette Treaty Commission in 1851. None of these treaties were ratified by Congress. Dart accompanied the treaties to Washington, D. C. and gave the Senate a means of moving forward, by notifying them that all lands in the Willamette Valley … Continue reading Waukikum Treaty of 1851

assimilation, colonization, columbia river, General History, Kalapuya, Native Issues, Oregon indians, treaties, Willamette Valley1 Comment

Dart’s Instructions of Colonization and Assimilation in 1850

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1850, the United States passed The Oregon Donation Land-claim Act. This act gave American men 640 acres, one square mile of free land in Oregon, allowed other claims by wives (160 acres), and children, and proved up on the previous land claims of other Americans. A recent manuscript by Julius Wilm (2017) points out that the United States, previous to the Treaty of Oregon (1846), sidestepped the issue of claiming full ownership to Oregon, and risking the ire of Great Britain, and instead tried to pass an act to  “secure the persons and property of American Citizens”  which were … Continue reading Dart’s Instructions of Colonization and Assimilation in 1850

columbia river, coos bay, General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Kalapuya, Native Issues, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, Rogue Valley, treaties, Willamette Valley3 Comments

Rejection of the Nineteen 1851 Oregon Treaties

David G. Lewis, PhD

Anson Dart, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, from 1850 to 1852, remains an enigma. His nineteen treaties with the tribes of western Oregon, negotiated by the Willamette Valley Commission, all failed to be ratified. Because of the lack … Continue reading Rejection of the Nineteen 1851 Oregon Treaties

General History, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, treaties, Uncategorized1 Comment

The 1851 Treaty Commission: the Ya-su-chah at Port Orford

David G. Lewis, PhD

This second treaty at Port Orford was with a tribe south of the Rogue River, likely the Chetleshin tribe. This is another athapaskan speaking tribe that already had several problems with miners on the coast. The emphasis on maintaining the peace and access of Americans across their lands suggests there were many problems in the area. With these two Port Orford Treaties, the entrance to the Rogue River, and the potential settlements on the coast would be assured. Access to the Rogue River was important to get to the gold region of Oregon, and the future coastal downs at the … Continue reading The 1851 Treaty Commission: the Ya-su-chah at Port Orford

General History, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, treaties, Uncategorized1 Comment

The 1851 Treaty Commission: Coquille, Euchre, and Tototan at Port Orford

David G. Lewis, PhD

  The Coquille are a Miluk speaking tribe and the other tribes, Euchre Creek and To-to-tan, are athapaskan speaking tribes that already had several problems with explorers and miners on the coast. In fact, T’Vault, who had a role in this treaty, had the majority of his exploratory party killed when he first encountered the Coquille Indians at their village near the present site of Bandon, OR. This had caused retribution on the Coquille by the Army out of Fort Vancouver. The Army they set up a detachment of troops at Fort Orford, near the port, to keep the peace. … Continue reading The 1851 Treaty Commission: Coquille, Euchre, and Tototan at Port Orford