Tag: slacum

columbia river, General History, Oregon indians, Willamette ValleyLeave a comment

William Slacum’s Chart of the Columbia River 1837

David G. Lewis, PhD

As a spy in the Oregon Territory, and a Navy man, William A. Slacum was tasked with documenting the possessions of the British, but he also worked extensively to learn where the tribes were located. A map, Chart of the Columbia River, was created from his field sketches and survey notes from 1837, which tracks some 90 miles of the Columbia River. On the map is located a number of Native villages of the principal tribes of the Chinookan peoples. Kiesno is now the conventional spelling of this chief’s name. His is reported to have a principal village near St. … Continue reading William Slacum’s Chart of the Columbia River 1837

Anthropology, General History, Kalapuya, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, treaties, Willamette Valley5 Comments

Lt. William A. Slacum, United States Spy in the Oregon Territory, and ; Chief Slacum of the Clowewalla

David G. Lewis, PhD

Lt. William A. Slacum, a Navy purser, was sent by the President, through the Department of State, as a special investigator to the Oregon Territory to investigate the Britain operations and to take stock of the tribes and the resources in the territory. Slacum was alone, except for one servant, and was not sent with supplies or any obvious purpose for going to Oregon. In sending Slacum to Oregon, the President, Andrew Jackson, was reacting to the obvious dominance of the British in the Oregon Territory despite the Treaty of 1818 which provides for a joint occupation of the territory … Continue reading Lt. William A. Slacum, United States Spy in the Oregon Territory, and ; Chief Slacum of the Clowewalla