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Kalapooian Indian Tribe History
Kalapooian Family. A group of tribes
formerly occupying the valley of Willamette River, north west
Oregon, and speaking a distinct stock language
(see Powell in 7th Rep. B. A. E., 81, 1891). Little is
known of their history, but they seem to have confined
themselves to the territory mentioned, except in the case of one
tribe, the Yonkalla, which pushed southward to the valley of the
Umpqua. The earliest accounts describe a numerous population in
Willamette valley, which is one of the most fertile in the north
west; but the Kalapooian tribes appear to have suffered severe
losses by epidemic disease about 1824, and since that time they
have been numerically weak. They are also described as being
indolent and sluggish in character, yet they seem to have been
able to hold their territory against the attempts of surrounding
tribes to dispossess them. They were at constant war with the
coast peoples and also suffered much at the hands of the white
pioneers. Game, in which the country abounded, and roots of
various kinds constituted their chief food supply. Unlike most
of the Indians of that region they did not depend on salmon,
which are unable to ascend the Willamette above the falls, and
at which point the Kalapooian territory ended. Of the general
customs of the group there is little information. Slavery
existed in a modified form, marriage was by purchase and was
accompanied by certain curious ceremonials
(Gatschet in Jour. Am. Folklore, xii, 212, 1899), and
flattening of the head by fronto-occipital pressure was
practiced. The language is sonorous, the verb excessively
complex, few prefixes being used, and the words are
distinguished by consonantal endings.
By treaty of Calapooia creek, Oregon, Nov. 29, 1854,
the Umpqua and Kalapooian tribes of Umpqua valley ceded their
lands to the United States, the tract, however, to constitute a
reserve for these and other tribes, unless the President should
decide to locate them elsewhere. This removal was effected, and
the entire tract was regarded as ceded. By treaty at Dayton,
Oregon, Jan. 22, 1855, the Calapooya and confederated bands of
Willamette valley ceded the entire drainage area of Willamette
river, the Grande Ronde Reservation being set aside for them and
other bands by Executive order of June 30, 1857. By agreement
June 27, 1901, confirmed Apr. 21, 1904, the Indians of Grande
Ronde Reservation ceded all the unallotted lands of said
reservation. The Kalapooian bands at Grande Ronde numbered 351
in 1880, 164 in 1890, 130 in 1905. There are also a few
representatives of the stock under the Siletz agency.
It is probable that in early times the tribes and divisions of
this family were more numerous, but the following are the chief
ones of which there is definite information: Ahantchuyuk or
Pudding River, Atfalati or Tualati, Calapooya, Chelamela,
Chepenafa, Lakmiut, Santiam, Yamel, and Yonkalla.
The following are presumed to be Kalapooian tribes or
bands,, but have not been fully identified: Cemapho, Chemeketas,
Chillychandize, Laptambif, Leeshtelosh, Peeyon, Shehees,
Shookany, and Winnefelly.
The books presented are for their
historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or Nations
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