Santiam Forks Band of Molalla

The Santiam Forks Band of Molalla is not as well known as the Northern Molalla. We have had a few stories and while there is some information in families genealogies of Chief Coastno, it is a rare subject. This essay will focus on this small tribe and reveal the available information. The most information was have about this tribe of Molalla is contained within the 1851 treaty journal; Champoeg May 3rd 1851 Saturday Afternoon, 2 o’clock, the chief and principal men of the Santiam Band of the Moo-lal-le tribe of Indians, having been assembled the Board of Commissioners met them … Continue reading Santiam Forks Band of Molalla

The 1851 Treaty Commission Journal: Santiam Kalapuya Negotiations

The 1851 Indian treaties for Oregon were the first treaties to cede land in the Pacific Northwest, the very first being that with the Santiam. After the Santiam treaty, the other tribes in the valley are negotiated with, by the Willamette Valley Treaty Commission. A month later the responsibilities are assigned to Anson Dart, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory. Robert Shortess, a sub-Indian agent, arranges meetings with lower Chinook and Tillamook tribes, and Dart attends the treaty negotiations at Tansey Point on the Columbia. After negotiating with the Chinook and Tillamook tribes there, Dart visits Port Orford … Continue reading The 1851 Treaty Commission Journal: Santiam Kalapuya Negotiations

Reservation of the Santiam Band of Indians under Chief Jo 1855

One band of the Santiam tribe, Chief Jo’s band, lived within the north and south forks of the Santiam River. Alquema or Jo (Joseph) Hutchins had earlier signed the 1851 treaty with Anson Dart. During the treaty negotiations, the first for the tribes of the Willamette Valley, Alquema and Tiacan (possible the leader of the other Santiam band, Louis, located at Lebanon) held out to remain in their lands. They negotiated a permanent reservation between the forks of Santiam. Their transcribed speeches over the course of five days are important to understanding how deeply they felt about remaining on their … Continue reading Reservation of the Santiam Band of Indians under Chief Jo 1855

The Louis’ Band of Santiam Indians Reservation 1855

In March of 1855, Joel Palmer was working on securing  temporary reservations to locate the various bands of Kalapuya Indians in the Willamette Valley. The promises of the Willamette Valley treaty of January 22, 1855, were that the tribes would cede their lands to the United States for some money, for services, and for a permanent reservation to live out their days. But at the time there was not yet a reservation prepared. Palmer was working with the US military stationed at Fort Vancouver to create the reservation. The Louis Band of Santiams was perhaps the most prominent band of … Continue reading The Louis’ Band of Santiam Indians Reservation 1855

The Tekopa Band of Calapooias Reservation 1855

In 1855, the Kalapuyans of the Willamette Valley signed a treaty with Joel Palmer at his land claim in Dayton. This treaty ceded the whole of the Willamette Valley to the United States. American farmers wanted the tribes removed from the valley as soon as possible as they did not want to live near Indians. There were numerous conflicts in the region caused by the encroachment of Americans onto Indian lands and the atmosphere was especially toxic in southern Oregon and on the Columbia River.  Americans, insisting that they deserved landclaims, took land from the tribes and completely disrespected previous … Continue reading The Tekopa Band of Calapooias Reservation 1855