Tag: Chinook

General HistoryLeave a comment

Missing Pages: Additional Signatory Tribes to the Willamette Valley Treaty

David G. Lewis, PhD

For more than 166 years the following pages were missing from the history and legal record of the Grand Ronde Tribe. It appears that sometime in early March 1855 Joel Palmer secured additional signatories to the Willamette Valley Treaty from two Molalla tribes and two other tribes on the Columbia River, The Klatskania tribe (Clatskanie) and the Ne-pe-chuck band. These additions were hinted at in a letter from Palmer on January 9th of 1856. “One village of Indians in the vicinity of St. Helens have not yet signed the treaty of the 10th January 1855 but are ready to do … Continue reading Missing Pages: Additional Signatory Tribes to the Willamette Valley Treaty

columbia river, Oregon indians, tradeLeave a comment

Encounters with Chief Kiesno of the Columbia

David G. Lewis, PhD

Chief Kiesno was one of the most powerful chiefs on the Columbia River at the time of the fur trade and American settlement. He was related to tribes throughout the lower Columbia region. He is well documented in numerous encounters with a number of explorers, fur traders, and settlers. His time spanned the whole of the early colonization of Oregon and ends in 1848, when he passes. There is then a transition to Oregon as an official U.S. territory.  It is probable that he is the model for the figure of Chief Multnomah fictionalized by Frederick Balch in his book … Continue reading Encounters with Chief Kiesno of the Columbia

General History, Willamette Valley3 Comments

Etienne Lucier First Settler in the Willamette Valley

David G. Lewis, PhD

Etienne Lucier (Lussier, Lewis) was a French fur trapper who worked for the three principal fur companies in Oregon. He first arrived after traveling overland in 1811 as part of the Pacific Fur Trading Company, and helping found Astoria. When PFTC was forced to sell out to North West Company in 1813 Etienne continued working as an independent fur trader, and later continued his advocation with Hudson’s Bay Company which took over the fur trade in Oregon after 1820. Etienne then retired from HBC in 1827 and first began farming on the east side of the Willamette, across from Ft. … Continue reading Etienne Lucier First Settler in the Willamette Valley

columbia river, General History, Oregon indians, treatiesLeave a comment

Ongoing Chinook Territorial and Recognition Claims, Pt. 1

David G. Lewis, PhD

The Chinook Nation is still seeking recognition in 2018, despite having one of the oldest and longest relationships with the United States of any tribe on the West Coast. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition reached their final destination on the Columbia River, within the territory of the Clatsop and other Chinookan tribes of the lower Columbia. The expedition built a cabin, Fort Clatsop, and lived there throughout the winter of 1805-1806. During this time, the expedition members interacted daily with Chinookan peoples, trading with them, having visits with tribal leaders and mapping and recording the territory up and … Continue reading Ongoing Chinook Territorial and Recognition Claims, Pt. 1

columbia river, General History, Oregon indians, Willamette ValleyLeave a comment

William Slacum’s Chart of the Columbia River 1837

David G. Lewis, PhD

As a spy in the Oregon Territory, and a Navy man, William A. Slacum was tasked with documenting the possessions of the British, but he also worked extensively to learn where the tribes were located. A map, Chart of the Columbia River, was created from his field sketches and survey notes from 1837, which tracks some 90 miles of the Columbia River. On the map is located a number of Native villages of the principal tribes of the Chinookan peoples. Kiesno is now the conventional spelling of this chief’s name. His is reported to have a principal village near St. … Continue reading William Slacum’s Chart of the Columbia River 1837