Tag: minto

Ethnobotany, Kalapuya, Traditional ecological knowledge, Willamette ValleyLeave a comment

Camas and Micro-seasonality at Minto-Brown Park

David G. Lewis, PhD

We all are aware of the annual seasons, winter, spring, summer, and fall, but in the growing cycle of the plants of the Willamette Valley there are micro-seasons when specific plants rise and expend their energies. (there is probably a botanical term for micro-seasons but not sure what that is.) This is the case at Minto-Brown park, during the first spring micro-season, with few flowers and plants just beginning to grow. For Camas, in about March-April, they sprout their long leaves and it takes some weeks for the central flower to begin to rise.   There are a few early … Continue reading Camas and Micro-seasonality at Minto-Brown Park

Personal HistoryLeave a comment

Summer Cycling at Minto-Brown Island Park

David G. Lewis, PhD

This summer, I have been returning to mountain biking in the local park, Minto-Brown Island park. I used to mountain bike a lot, when I lived in California. I would take excursions to parks in and around Sonoma County. Bolinas Ridge, Annadel, Sonoma Mountain were my favorite parks to visit. Annadel was my very favorite, with many different trails for serious cyclists, lots of hills and lots of fast downhills. I did tons of road riding too, throughout the county, to the coast, along the coast highway and doing the Highway 12 route, through the Valley of the Moon. I … Continue reading Summer Cycling at Minto-Brown Island Park

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Uncategorized, Willamette Valley4 Comments

Travels, Campmeetings, and Off-Rez Settlements of the Western Oregon Tribes

David G. Lewis, PhD

In recent years, histories of the Indians of Oregon have come under scrutiny by a cadre of historians and anthropologists. Questioned now are events that took place in Oregon, how the events unfolded and some of the “facts” of native history that most people have come to assume are the only history of Native peoples in Oregon. My investigation into possible mis-characterizations of Native history in Oregon has led to numerous new discoveries about native history in the historic era. These discoveries place much of the written Native history from 1850 to 1970 in doubt.  One of the most egregious problems is … Continue reading Travels, Campmeetings, and Off-Rez Settlements of the Western Oregon Tribes

General History, Oregon indians, Uncategorized, Willamette Valley8 Comments

Battle Creek, The First Battle in The Willamette Valley

David G. Lewis, PhD

Battle Creek, in Salem, is the location for perhaps the earliest conflict between the tribes in the Willamette Valley and the settlers, in early August 1846 (Oregon Spectator article August 6, 1846). The original inhabitants of the Salem Hills and Jefferson areas were the Santiam Kalapuyans. In this instance the fight was between the settlers and a visiting band of Klamaths. The Klamaths were regular visitors to the valley having much trade with the Kalapuyans and a close friendship with the nearby Northern and Santiam Molallas. A good system of trails, some called Klamath trails, connected the regional tribes from … Continue reading Battle Creek, The First Battle in The Willamette Valley