Tag: colonization

Anthropology, General History, Native Issues, Oregon indians, Uncategorized8 Comments

Ignoring Tribal History in a Contemporary Exhibit

David G. Lewis, PhD

On 10/26, 2019 I visited the Open house at the Oregon State Archives, Salem, OR, and was supremely disappointed at their new exhibit Rust, Rot, & Ruin, which documents the beginning of key industries in Oregon through the boomtowns founded by gold mining, logging, farming and ranching,  and other mining. Some of these industries produced company towns, which have since become ghost towns, largely abandoned by the original settler families who made their wealth off of these natural resources. The text has few, very few, mentions of Native peoples and Chinese people. There is a panel on the Chinese laborers … Continue reading Ignoring Tribal History in a Contemporary Exhibit

General History, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, Rogue Valley, Siletz Reservation, treaties1 Comment

Battle Rock the First Colonization on the Southern Oregon Coast

David G. Lewis, PhD

In July 1851, Captain William Tichenor decided to begin his project to colonize and claim the Port Orford area. He envisioned that the establishment of a town at Port Orford would be an entry point for gold miners into SW Oregon. Tichenor originally hired his band of men from Portland, O.T., promising them that the Indians in the region were peaceful. Tichenor convinced his men that they did not need much armament and that arms would only provoke the Natives. He said he had visited the area many times and the Indians were always welcoming. Still his engages choose to … Continue reading Battle Rock the First Colonization on the Southern Oregon Coast

colonization, General History, Native IssuesLeave a comment

Americans the Victimized

David G. Lewis, PhD

The story of the settlement of Oregon is largely one of victimization. The pioneers, settlers in many stories are escaping taxes and lack of opportunities in the east. Some are even coming from Europe where they had little rights and no opportunity for advancement. The movement of these peoples west is a journey to find opportunity, freedom, liberty, from the oppressive structures to the east. Manifest Destiny, the assumption of American rights to the lands of the west, is an narrative intended to inspire colonization of the west coast so that Americans can compete with the European colonizers for access … Continue reading Americans the Victimized

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, General History, Oregon indians, Umpqua Valley, Washington Territory, Willamette Valley8 Comments

Klickitat Bands Colonize the Columbia River and Northwestern Oregon

David G. Lewis, PhD

The Klickitat (Klikitat, Clickitat) tribal nation are for many people in Oregon, synonymous with “Oregon Indians.” In fact, Oregon still has stories of Klickitat trails, and a Klickitat Mountain in the Coast Range. Yet, the Klickitats are not originally from Oregon at all. Their habitations in the 19th century were the eastern flanks of the northern Cascades, that section of the range north of the Columbia River. The Clickatats claim a district of country north of the Columbia, but they are a roving tribe and are scattered about in different parts of the territory. Their number is four hundred and … Continue reading Klickitat Bands Colonize the Columbia River and Northwestern Oregon