The Upper Umpqua and Yoncalla are Removed to the Umpqua Reservation

A subject which has had little clarity in the past is when were the Umpqua and Southern Kalapuya, the Yoncallas, resettled to the Umpqua Reservation at Coles Valley. The Umpqua and Calapooia Treaty of November 29, 1854 is the treaty of land cession for these tribes and sets in motion the removal of the tribes to a permanent reservation. But that removal did not happen immediately and significant plans had to be made to create the temporary Umpqua Reservation, and develop it to the point that the tribes may be removed there. The illustration of this process and event was … Continue reading The Upper Umpqua and Yoncalla are Removed to the Umpqua Reservation

They Were of Good Character and Industrious, Kalapuya and Umpqua Off-Reservation Allotments

Indian Off-Reservation Allotments Members of the Halo Family of Yoncalla Indians, were allotted with off-reservation Indian Allotments in 1892. Most of their allotments were in an areas covered by GLO maps 20S, 4W; 23S, 4W; and the vast majority in 22S 4W, a mountainous and hilly region of central-western Oregon, on the edge of the Calapooia Range. This area is the dividing range between the Willamette and Umpqua watersheds, within the original tribal territory of the Yoncalla Indians. The Fearns, as detailed below are the sons and grandchildren of Chief  Halo. This cluster of four families in the area between … Continue reading They Were of Good Character and Industrious, Kalapuya and Umpqua Off-Reservation Allotments

Chief Halotish Village on the Row River

On the sleepy banks of the Row River, near the Calapooia Mountains in western Oregon,  by the town of Cottage Grove, was once a vibrant Kalapuyan village. Townsfolk on the early 20th century wrote in the newspaper that there were two communities of about 100 Native people in the area, the village on the Row River occupied by the family of Chief Halotish and the village at Pleasant Hill occupied by other “Pleasant Hill” Kalapuyans. They would travel back and forth and visit one another, attending summer camp meetings on the site of the heritage fairgrounds in Cottage Grove, while, … Continue reading Chief Halotish Village on the Row River