Tag: cayuse

Anthropology, eastern oregon, General History, Native Issues, Oregon indians, Willamette ValleyLeave a comment

Ancient History of the Molala (La’tiwi)

David G. Lewis, PhD

The Molala (Mollala, Molalla, Molele, La’tiwi) are a tribe of Western Oregon. They lived on the eastern periphery of the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys. There were at least five concentrations of them: The Northern Molalla were situated in Dickie Prairie on the other side of the ridge from the contemporary town of Molalla, their village called Mokanti; the Crooked Finger Molalla, situated in Crooked Finger Prairie southeast of Scotts Mills; the Santiam Molalla, situated on the southern side of the Santiam River near the town of Stayton; the Tufti Band of Molalla, situated east of Springfield near the town of … Continue reading Ancient History of the Molala (La’tiwi)

colonization, Kalapuya, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians6 Comments

Bison of the Western Rockies

David G. Lewis, PhD

  For years, I have stated that the tribes did not have bison in Oregon, so they would not have made tipis. This is why the tribes have plankhouses and longhouses made from woven mats. Tipis require a large animal to cover the tipi with their hides. This has made sense to most people. We did have structures among some tribes that looked like a tipi, the Molala for one had a tipi-like mobile living structure that was covered instead in woven mats. But, while bison are not known for the past few centuries west of the Rockies, there has … Continue reading Bison of the Western Rockies

Anthropology, General History, Kalapuya, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, trade, Willamette Valley1 Comment

Ethnography of Oregon Indians 1841: Horatio Hale of the U.S. Exploring Expedition

David G. Lewis, PhD

Horatio Hale’s created what may be one of the earliest ethnographies of the tribes of the Pacific Coast. Remarkable as it is, Hale’s ethnography is both interesting and disappointing. Much of his analysis of the Native peoples of Oregon shows … Continue reading Ethnography of Oregon Indians 1841: Horatio Hale of the U.S. Exploring Expedition

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

Negotiating Colonization in Eastern Oregon: Nez Perce Speeches

David G. Lewis, PhD

*Note- these speeches were transcribed from reports in the M234 microfilms for the Washington Superintendency. They occur near the end of the Cayuse War when it appears that the Army assumed that The Nez Perce were hiding members of the Cayuses, relatives of the Nez Perces. What the transcriptions do not detail is that the Nez Perces and the Cayuses (and all other tribes) were being invaded by the Bird Peoples (American Pioneers who moved westward: like migrating birds), and the sovereignty and rights of the Tribes were not being honored. They knew this and yet were trying to live … Continue reading Negotiating Colonization in Eastern Oregon: Nez Perce Speeches

California Natives, eastern oregon, General History, Oregon indians1 Comment

The Grand Enterprise of Six Tribes in 1845

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1845, before the waves of settlers had come to the Oregon Territory, a confederation of six Oregon tribes worked together to begin to expand their resources and wealth. The “Kayuse, Wallawalla, Spokans, Nes Perces, Ponderays and Snakes” sought to create vast cattle ranches in their territories. Dr. Elijah White (Indian agent) reported the happenings of their grand enterprise to buy cattle in California from the Spaniards and drive them back to Oregon.

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