1. History and Historical Questions of the Grand Ronde Tribe
David Lewis, Tribal Historian
Land and Culture Department
August 2014

2. The Grand Ronde Peoples
Over 27 tribes and bands from throughout Western Oregon
An Area larger than 14 million acres
The Tribes and Bands lived here for over 14,000 years.

3. Treaties
The tribes were forced to sign treaties and agree to removal. Seven treaties were signed and ratified.
Rogue River Treaty 1853
Cow Creek Treaty 1853
Rogue River Treaty 1854
Umpqua and Kalapuya 1854
Chasta Costa 1854
Kalapuya etc (Willamette Valley)
Molalla 1855

4. Trail of Tears
Between January and March 1856 over 2000 Indians were removed from their homelands to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation.
Those from Table Rock marched in the dead of winter and 8 people died and 8 babies were born.

5. Hazen Map 1856

6. 1857 Executive Order

7. The Tribes at Grand Ronde
Chinook bands: Clowewalla (Oregon city) Multnomah (not the same as Clowewalla) Clackamas Wałála (Cascades) Cathlamet Skilloot Kalapuya (Calapooia) bands: Tualatin (Wapato Lake, Wappato, Atfalati) Yamhill (Yamel) Ahanchuyuk Luckiamute Mary’s River (Chepanapho) Chemapho (Muddy) Chelamela (Long Tom band) Winefelly (Winfelly) Mohawk (Pe-u) Tsankupi Chafan Santiam Yoncalla (Yonkalla, Komema) Calapuya
Molala (Molalla, Molele) bands:
Northern Molala Band
Santiam Band of Molala
Southern Molala Band
Umpqua bands:
Upper Umpqua
Cow Creek Band
Grave Creek Band
Rogue bands
Takelma
Latgawa
Athapaskan Bands
Cow-nan-te-co Band of Scotons
Sa-cher-i-ton Band of Scotons
Galice Creek
Applegate Creek
Dakubetede
Shasta Bands
Quil-si-eton Band
Na-he-ta Band
GR Tribes/Bands with Unratified Treaties
Salmon River (Nachesne)
Nestucca Band of Tillamook
Nehalem
Tillamook
Coquille
Klickitat
Clatskanie
Skilloot
Cathlamet

8. Reduction of Lands 1865 removal of tract from Coast Reservation
1875 removal of 2 tracts from Coast Reservation, Closure of Alsea reservation
reduction of Coast and Grad Ronde reservations through sales of surplus lands after allotment (1887).
acres remaining at Grand Ronde, over 2000 at Siletz
termination of all lands

9. Grand Ronde Constitution, 1936
Reorganized the government with elected officials
Created a five member Business Committee to run the affairs of the tribe
Created a tribal roll managed by the tribe
Allowed for greater Self-governance

10. Western Oregon Indian Termination Act
PL 588 passed 1954, finalized 1956

11. Termination without Consent
Congress terminated the tribe in 1954
Despite conditions set by Congress that tribes agree to termination, agreement did not occur in western Oregon.
Tribal elders stated that they had no knowledge of the hearings, that they had not voted to accept or reject termination.
No vote about the 1953 termination draft document ever occurred and the agent admitted that there were voices in opposition.

12. Restoration
In the 1970’s some tribal members found ways to organize and began the process of restoration.

13. Tribal Restoration
President Ronald Reagan signed the tribe’s Grand Ronde Restoration Act, House Resolution 3885, on November 22nd 1983.

14. Reservation Restoration
9811 acres were restored in 1988
The tribe was able to fund the government
The BIA was to manage the timber sales for 20 years

15. Cultural Developments continue
Cultural Department 1997
Grand Ronde Canoe Family 2000s
Achaf-Hammi Plankhouse 2009
Land and Culture Department 2013
Chachalu Tribal Museum and Cultural Center Phase

16. Ethno-historical Research
Lack of an accurate historical account of the tribal history has brought up lots of questions
Competing claims over territory between tribes has raised questions
Continued findings that historians did not truly write our history means we are doing this for the first time.
Numerous projects are now happening in Oregon to ferret up the true history, we are employing the most respected scholars to answer our questions.

17. Examples of Historical corrections
Chief Multnomah / Wy-east(Mt Hood)
Last of the Kalapuya myths (Indian Eliza, Chief Halo)
Where did the tribes remove to?
Are the Klickitat an Oregon tribe?
Did we willingly accept termination?
Did the tribes get paid all they were due?
What was life like for the tribes in the 19th and 20th centuries?

18. Thank You
David Lewis, PhD Tribal Historian Manager of the Exhibtis and Archives Program Chachalu Tribal Museum and Cultural Center