Tag: comcomley

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David Douglas Shaves Comcomley’s Brother

David G. Lewis, PhD

David Douglas traveled around Oregon, Washington, California, British Columbia and Hawaii from 1824 to 1834. Most of the time Douglas was accompanied by Native packers who helped transport his equipment, hunt for food, translate with local tribes and fend off attackers. Sometimes Douglas has the company of as Euro-American, some mountain man, fur trader or explorer. Most times Douglas was in the company of Native peoples. He could fend for himself when he needed to, shoot with the best men, and was diplomatic enough, or just odd enough,  that tribes treated him well and even tried to help him. He … Continue reading David Douglas Shaves Comcomley’s Brother

columbia river, Oregon indians, Uncategorized, Willamette Valley3 Comments

Outside the Ethnographic Box: Native Trade Networks

David G. Lewis, PhD

Its important for people today to understand how extensively the tribes in the region traded and traveled. Native peoples generally traveled in annual routes about their homelands and traveled river highways, and overland trails to far away tribes to form partnerships, arrange marriages and access resources they did not have in their region. First, its  important to understand how attitudes and understandings about native trade have been heavily shaped by the history of anthropology. In the early days of anthropology, many anthropologists assumed that tribes remained in small areas adjacent to their villages. That they did not travel much or … Continue reading Outside the Ethnographic Box: Native Trade Networks