Tag: Research

columbia river, General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Native Issues, Oregon indians, Uncategorized17 Comments

A Startling History of the Cascades Indians, 1855-1862

David G. Lewis, PhD

On March 26, 1856, a year after the Willamette Valley treaty is negotiated (Jan. 22, 1855) there is an uprising on the Columbia near the Cascades. There are numerous versions of the story,  but it is associated  as an extension of the Yakima Indian Wars, where  Klickitat and Yakima and perhaps some Cascades Indians were upset with the Americans and killed some of them in a series of attacks on settlements and outposts on the Columbia River. The Yakima leader Kamiakin was upset about the invasion of his country and wanted to drive the Americans from the Columbia. The Klickitats … Continue reading A Startling History of the Cascades Indians, 1855-1862

Oregon indians, Uncategorized2 Comments

Research at the Willamettes

David G. Lewis, PhD

This past year I have spent a fair amount of time researching subjects at Willamette University and Willamette Heritage Center. At the university their collections are very good for the local area and politics. Their Chemawa records are beyond most other archives in the area, especially their yearbook collection and photographs. I have contributed to the collection in a significant way and the availability of the collection to researchers is invaluable. Then, the Marion County Historical Society archives, a part of the Willamette Heritage Center, along with the Mission Mill, has good collections as well. Their mostly volunteer staff is … Continue reading Research at the Willamettes

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Archival Research in Digital Collections: Where to find those resources online!

David G. Lewis, PhD

Over the years I have done a bit of research on the tribes in Oregon. My career in research has crossed from non-digital to nearly full digital for many projects. There is now perhaps 50% of the original manuscripts I use on a daily basis online and available for viewing or digital download. Many more are being enabled as I write. Digital is the future but still cannot replace good archival research skills. Here I am posting annotated online research links. Please notify me if any go out of date. thank you   Online Digital Libraries Berkeley, California Sunsite – … Continue reading Archival Research in Digital Collections: Where to find those resources online!

Archival Development, General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Oregon indians, Uncategorized2 Comments
External link to The Charles Holmes Collection of Chemawa Indian School Documents

The Charles Holmes Collection of Chemawa Indian School Documents

David G. Lewis, PhD

A few years ago, I received a donation from the Charles Holmes estate in Salem, from the wife of Charles Holmes. The collection, are records from the career of Charles Holmes, a former teacher and staff member at Chemawa Indian … Continue reading The Charles Holmes Collection of Chemawa Indian School Documents

Anthropology, California Natives, Native Issues, Oral History, Oregon indians, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Tribal Oral Histories Are History

David G. Lewis, PhD

When the western Oregon tribes were terminated, the federal government reported that we had agreed to be terminated. This story is pervasive throughout the region with tribes, Oregonians and history books all professing the willingness of the western Oregon tribes to be terminated. This story affected people’s identities, where members of terminated tribes were not allowed to participate in reservation activities, as many non-terminated tribes assumed that the terminated tribes willingly agreed to stop being Indian. In fact terminated tribal people moved into cities and became “urban Indians”, a term many attributed in a negative way to be a racism … Continue reading Tribal Oral Histories Are History