Tohomish, also known as Pine Voice, of the Santiam band of Kalapuya, c1900. [Photo: Oregon Historical Society] February 6 & February 13, 2020 Episodes.
When we think about early Oregon history, stories about the pioneers coming along the Oregon Trail in covered wagons, Dr. McLoughlin and the early fur trappers, or perhaps Jason Lee and his mission along the Willamette River most often come to the forefront of our memory. There were, however, many hundreds of people living out their ancestral stories in our valleys long before the Euro-Americans decided to expand America's western frontier. Indigenous people of the coast, the mountains, the valleys and the eastern plains had cared for these lands for centuries. In our local area, several bands of the Kalapuya tribe called this place home.
When we think about early Oregon history, stories about the pioneers coming along the Oregon Trail in covered wagons, Dr. McLoughlin and the early fur trappers, or perhaps Jason Lee and his mission along the Willamette River most often come to the forefront of our memory. There were, however, many hundreds of people living out their ancestral stories in our valleys long before the Euro-Americans decided to expand America's western frontier. Indigenous people of the coast, the mountains, the valleys and the eastern plains had cared for these lands for centuries. In our local area, several bands of the Kalapuya tribe called this place home.
Chris Bailey & Briece Edwards, of the Cultural Resources Department of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, February 2020. Our guests on this episode were Briece Edwards and Chris Bailey of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Cultural Resources Department. We learned, among other things, that theirs is a tribal organization made up of more than 30 tribes and bands speaking at least nine different languages, whose sovereign lands span more than 14 million acres from the Columbia River to the California border, and from the west Cascades to the Coast range.
Chris has a background in education, and he finds the outreach and research aspects of his job reviewing various development proposals the most interesting. Briece's background is in archaeology, and he helps the Tribe recognize and implement their "landcestry," where the land itself is just as much a part of their ancestral heritage as the people who have lived on it.
Chris has a background in education, and he finds the outreach and research aspects of his job reviewing various development proposals the most interesting. Briece's background is in archaeology, and he helps the Tribe recognize and implement their "landcestry," where the land itself is just as much a part of their ancestral heritage as the people who have lived on it.
[Photo: Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde] Their website explains that the Tribe is active throughout its ancestral homelands but is mainly located in western Oregon where it has a 11,500-acre reservation in Yamhill County. With approximately 5,400 enrolled tribal members, the Tribe is governed by a nine-member Tribal Council that is elected by the Tribe’s voting membership. Since restoration of their sovereign rights in 1983, Tribal efforts have focused on rebuilding tribal institutions, strengthening tribal culture, and developing service and educational programs designed to meet the needs of their members.
 Map of Lands Ceded by Ratified Treaties [Photo: CTGR] |  Reservation & Tribal Lands in Yamhill County, 2013 [Photo: CTGR] |
The tribes and bands of western Oregon ceded their traditional homelands over to the US Government through a series of ratified treaties in the 1850s [see map above, left]. These indigenous peoples spoke more than nine different languages and came from widely varying cultures, not all of them with friendly histories. This still controversial action was taken to provide for the ever-expanding colonization of the western frontier lands by the United States government.
  |  The photo above is of the Spirit Mountain area in 1904. The photo at upper left is a group of Kalapuyan tribal members c1900. The photo at lower left is of Martha Jane Sands & family, renowned Kalapuyan basket weaver. [All photos from Oregon Historical Society archives] |
The Tribes have created the Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center where they showcase the story of the tribes and bands of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community and honor the elders who kept tribal traditions and dreams alive during the years of termination, as well as highlighting their plans for the future. Check out their website for more information.
We always learn something new from each guest we spend time with. In this visit, Christy and I learned that in the native language of the Kalapuyan, "chi" or "che" translates into place. So, Chemawa, means place of speaking, Chemeketa means meaning place, etc. Consider that bit of knowledge as you travel around our region with its many Native American place names.
To hear the full story, check out the podcasts: Part 1, and Part 2.
To hear the full story, check out the podcasts: Part 1, and Part 2.
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
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