Tag: census

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, Siletz Reservation, Umpqua Valley, Willamette ValleyLeave a comment

The First Census of the Coast and Grand Ronde Reservations: 1856

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1856, Joel Palmer had some 4000 Natives removed from their homelands to the Coast and Grand Ronde Indian Reservations. Up to at least April of 1856 the primary location of the removal of the tribes was the Grand Ronde addition to the Coast Reservation. In this early period Palmer did not conceive of the two reservations as separate and he had already created the Coast Reservation in 1855 under presidential executive order. The Grand Ronde addition was not yet thought of as permanent and yet the majority of all tribes removed first settled at Grand Ronde due to the … Continue reading The First Census of the Coast and Grand Ronde Reservations: 1856

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Kalapuya, Oregon indians, treaties, Willamette Valley8 Comments

Newly Found: The March 1856 Census of Indians At The Grand Ronde Reservation

David G. Lewis, PhD

The Census was found at the Oregon Historical Society Archives in the William W. Raymond Collection on May 9, 2019. That afternoon after my PSU class I took the opportunity to check out a few leads looking for information from Indian agents on the Oregon Coast. Raymond is not so well known, but he spent some years as the Indian Agent of the Astoria District. He lived in Tillamook and managed the Clatsop and Tillamook tribes. Then in 1856, Joel Palmer assigned him to help with the Resettlement of Tribes to the Grand Ronde Reservation. He is there with other … Continue reading Newly Found: The March 1856 Census of Indians At The Grand Ronde Reservation

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

Counts of the Tribes and Bands of the Kalapuyans to 1856

David G. Lewis, PhD

Most estimates suggest that there were 19 tribes and bands of the Kalapuyans. This estimate was made in the early 20th century and does not really address the complexity of counting tribes and bands. In the 1850s there were probably less than 19 due to amalgamation of communities because of a huge reduction of populations from disease and settlers pushing tribes into smaller areas. The 19 tribes and bands estimated likely relates to the period from 1805 to 1835 when the Kalapuyans maintained their original village structure before the full effects of diseases were felt. Boyd and other scholars have … Continue reading Counts of the Tribes and Bands of the Kalapuyans to 1856

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Kalapuya, Oregon indians, Termination, treaties, Umpqua Valley2 Comments

The 1855 Umpqua Reservation Census

David G. Lewis, PhD

Some recent census research revealed a census I had not yet analyzed. Luckily, a brief search of my records found that I had previously collected the census, enabling some efficient analysis. I was looking initially at a “1960” Census of Calapooia and Umpqua Indians on the Grand Ronde reservation. It still unclear what this 1960 census is yet. I think it is a Indian Claims roll for descendants of these two tribes who may be eligible for payments. The Grand Ronde tribe was terminated in 1954-1956 and so in 1960 all members were terminated Indians, but there was at least … Continue reading The 1855 Umpqua Reservation Census

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Native Issues5 Comments

What did Omission from the Annual Tribal Census Mean to Grand Ronde?

David G. Lewis, PhD

In 1907, the Indian agent at Grand Ronde began redacting, or not listing, native peoples at Grand Ronde from the annual tribal census. The agent was treating the census as if it was a tribal roll, because their reasoning was that those individuals that had proved up on their Indian allotments, and applied to get them turned into fee simple titles. Once the land was freed from federal jurisdiction, the individual tribal members were then living on fee-simple titled lands. This was interpreted by Andrew Kershaw, the Indian Superintendent, as if the individuals were no longer tribal as they no … Continue reading What did Omission from the Annual Tribal Census Mean to Grand Ronde?