 A drawing of Clackamas Indians by Paul Kane | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Oregon, United States | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| otherChinook peoples |
TheClackamas Indians are a band ofChinook ofNative Americans who historically lived along theClackamas River in theWillamette Valley,Oregon.
Today, Clackamas people are enrolled in theConfederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
In 1806, Lewis and Clark estimated their population to be 1,800. At the time the tribe lived in 12 villages located from the lowerColumbia River to an area what is now calledOregon City. They resided towards the east side of theWillamette River. In February 1841, ReverendFrançois Norbert Blanchet and ReverendAlvin F. Waller converted Clackamas Chief Popoh.[1]
The Clackamas signed a treaty in the fall of 1851, which Oregon SuperintendentAnson Dart failed to ratify. They signed another treaty on January 10, 1855, which was ratified on March 3, 1855. The Clackamas were promised $2,500 worth of resources, but the United States only paid a fifth of what was owed.
The tribe subsisted on fish and root vegetables, and constructed large cedar platforms to dip their nets in overWillamette Falls to harvest salmon. The Clackamas women dried and smoked the salmon, which they then combined with mixtures of berries and nuts, preserving it in woven baskets for winter. The Clackamas traded salmon with other tribes, and also harvested and tradedwapato, broad-leafed arrowhead or "Indian potato" (Sagittaria latifolia andSagittaria cuneata).
Adult Clackamas historically wore leather leggings and tunics, and made skirts and bedding from cedar bark. An indication of high status in the tribe was intricate beadwork,quillwork, feather, and shell decorations. Certain shells served as currency.
Like others of theChinookan peoples, Clackamas practicedhead flattening. From infancy, one's head was compressed between boards thus sloping the forehead backward. This was a way to indicate that a person was free rather than a slave.[2]
The Clackamas were expert woodworkers, and crafted canoes and plank lodges. A typical canoe was 20 to 30 feet long, which they used to travel along the rivers, transporting trade goods and people. With deep knowledge of the Clackamas river systems, the Clackamas were often hired by pioneers as guides to navigate the river systems.
TheWillamette Meteorite is culturally significant to Clackamas people. The meteorite is calledTomanowos, which translates to "the visitor of heaven". The meteorite was believed to be given from the Sky People and is the unity between sky, earth, and water. Other tribes around the area thought that the meteorite possessed magical powers.[3]
By 1855, the 88 surviving members of the tribe were relocated toGrand Ronde, Oregon, first to theGrand Ronde Indian Reservation. They eventually blended in the general population of the Grand Ronde.
Soosap, likely born in 1841, is considered to be the last full-blooded tribal member. His mother was full-blooded Clackamas, his father wasKlickitat. Soosap lived off the Grand Ronde reservation in Oregon City, where he was a day laborer. His English name was Joseph Andrews as non-Native people couldn't pronounce his Native name. He was also a known baseball player in the Pacific Northwest.[4]
Other Chinookans of the lowerColumbia River:
