Molala Indian Tribe Location

Molala. Derived from the name of a creek in the Willamette Valley from which one of their bands drove the original inhabitants.

Also called:
   Amolélish, by the Kalapuya.
   Kúikni, by the Klamath.
   Láti-u or La'tiwé, their own name.
   Ya'-ide'sta, by the Umpqua.

Connections

Together with the Cayuse, the Molala constituted the Waiilatpuan division of the Shapwailutan linguistic stock. According to Cayuse tradition, the Molala formerly lived with them and were separated and driven westward in consequence of wars with hostile tribes.

Location

At an early date the Molala are believed to have been in the valley of the Deschutes River and to have been driven west, as above intimated, into the valleys of the Molala and Santiam Rivers. Either part of them subsequently went south to the headwaters of Umpqua and Rogue Rivers or they were separated from the rest in the movement above mentioned, as Berreman (1937) thinks.

Subdivisions

The following are said to have been Molala bands or settlements: Chakankni, on the headwaters of Rogue River, northwest of Klamath Lake, absorbed later by the neighboring tribes, particularly the Klamath. Chimbuiha, on the headwaters of Santiam River. Mukanti, on the western slope of the Cascade Mountains.

Population

Mooney (1928) believes the Molala were still with the Cayuse in 1780, whose numbers he fixes at about 500. In 1849 the Molala were estimated at 100. In 1877 Gatschet found several families living on the Grande Ronde Reservation, and in 1881 there were said to be 20 individuals in the mountains west of Klamath Lake. The census of 1910 returned 31, all but 6 of whom were in Oregon. (See Cayuse.)

Connection in which they have become noted

The Molala are note worthy in the first place for the uniqueness of their language, which is closely related only to Cayuse. Molalla River or Creek and a post village, both in Clackamas County, Oregon, bear the name.

• Northwestern Fights and Fighters

• Chief Joseph in Wallowa County, Oregon

• Wokas, A Primitive Food of the Klamath Indians

• Indian Stories and Legends of the Stillaguamish and Allied Tribes

• War with the Snake, Bannock and Paiute, Umatilla County, Oregon

• Klamath Indian Tribe

• Modoc Indian Tribe

• Yaquina Indian Tribe

Notes About the Book:

Source: The Indian Tribes of North America, by John R. Swanton, 1953, Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 145, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC.

Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and then ocr'd. Minimal editing has been done, and readers can and should expect some errors in the textual output.

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