A Short History of the Klamath Tribe

(Written and published by the Klamath Tribes in 1985)  

        Chiloquin , Oregon the home of the Klamath Indian Tribe is a small community located 30 miles north of Klamath Falls and 30 miles south of Crater Lake National Park .  The area is richly forested, laced with rivers and streams and abundant with wildlife.  

        When the first white explorers arrived in the Northwest, the Klamath Tribe owned 22 million acres of land, almost twenty-five percent of what was to be the State of Oregon .  The United States government recognized the sovereignty of the Klamath and the legitimacy of their title to the land.  The white settlers had, however, a different view of the vast new land.  To them, ownership meant cultivation; the(y) failed to recognize Indian ownership of uncultivated land.  As white settlement spilled over to the lush river valleys and marshlands of the Klamath basin, the constant skirmishing and loss of life affected both the Indian bands and the growing number of white farmers.  Both sides sought peace and there was pressure on both the U.S. government and on Indian leaders to end the bloodshed.  

        In 1864, the Klamath and Modoc Tribes and the Yahooskin Band of Snake Indians, together with representatives of the U.S. government, met at Council Grove to sign the Treaty of the Lakes.  The Tribes, who were henceforth to be known as “The Klamath Tribe”, gave up 18 million acres of land; this was to be made available to white settlement.  For themselves, the Klamath reserved 1,900,000 acres “as a residence.”  The Treaty specified the Klamath’s exclusive rights to hunt, fish and gather on the Reservation.  Over a period of years, the United States government agreed to pay $115,000 (or approximately $157 per acre).  This sum was to be paid in the form of “teams, farming implements, tools, seeds, clothing and provisions, and for the payment of the necessary employe(e)s.”  From the beginning, the Reservation was to be administered with the Klamath’s own funds.  

        Most of the Klamath Reservation was unsuitable for agriculture, however the greater portion consisted of prime forest land.  Development of the timber resources built a sound economic base for the Klamaths, providing a reliable source of income to individual Tribal members and self-sufficiency for the Tribe as a whole.  The Bureau of Indian Affairs met medical, social and educational needs, although the Tribe itself footed the bill.  For many years, the Klamath Tribe ranked as the richest self-supporting Indian Tribe in the United States .  

        In August 1954, the U.S Congress passed Public Law 587, which terminated the trust relationship between the Klamath Tribe and the United States and abolished the Reservation.  The Klamath Indians never voted to accept termination, but their vote was not required; Congress had the power to pass legislation without Klamath consent.  

        Termination ended the special relationship between the Tribe and the U.S. government in nearly all respects.  Since the Tribe was no longer “federally recognized”, federal benefits for both the Tribe as a whole and for individual members ceased.  Federal services were withdrawn, including federal health facilities and schools.  The responsibility for the Tribe was transferred to the State of Oregon , which was generally unprepared and unwilling to take over federal services.  

        The effects of termination were disastrous.  The Indians were given a choice of placing their shares of the money derived from the sale of the forest lands into a trust, or taking their share in cash.  Those who chose to place their money in trust found that often the legal fees allowed to the trustees consumed much of their inheritance.  Those who chose to take the cash received no financial or investment counseling or consumer education.  By the time that needed housing improvements had been made and needed transportation acquired, most of the money had gone and most Klamaths were left on their own with no income and no education or employable skills.  Without a reservation, the Klamath culture existed only in memory.  

        Today, concerted efforts on the part of Tribal Members themselves have done much to remedy these problems.  The Klamath Tribe is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the welfare of the Klamath people.  The Tribe is governed by an elected Tribal Executive Committee according to the Constitution and By-laws approved by the General Council of Tribal members.  

        In the three decades since termination, the Klamath Tribes have been concerned with the defense of its Treaty Rights and the development of its full potential for self-government.  Four major court cases have confirmed and defied the Tribal member is right to hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering, as well as Tribal water rights on former Reservation land.  

        At present (April 1985), the Tribe is involved in several important projects designed to enhance the well-being of Tribal members.  

Restoration is a primary thrust.  Not only is restoration vital to the pride and self esteem of tribal members, but it is essential in order to restore the government to government relationship between the Tribe and the U.S. government.  This is the relationship, recognized and defined by the Indian Self-Determination Act of 1975, that makes Tribal self-government possible.  Restoration would also restore the Klamath treaty guaranteed health and education benefits made available to other Indians but denied to Tribal members since termination.  In 1984, the Tribal General Council unanimously voted to pursue Restoration.  In 1985, a Restoration Bill will be introduced into Congress.  It is hoped that the Bill will be signed into law before the end of the year,  

Economic Development is essential.  During the past year, the Tribe had made considerable progress in tackling the problems of unemployment and underemployment.  

-                           The Tribe has cong(c)racted for forest crew duties in the Winema and Fremont National Forests and in Crater Lake National Park .  The Tribe will employ 60 workers on this project.  

-                           The Tribe has applied for a Vista grant in order to start a cottage industry and retail craft store.  

-                           Students from the Department of Business Education of the Oregon Institute of Technology are currently conducting a survey of the economic resources of the Chiloquin area.  

Health is an ongoing concern.  Tribal members often neglect health matters because of low incomes and lack of accessible facilities.  The Klamath Tribe is working to get outside help in come critical areas:  

-                           The Tribe, in conjunction with Portland State University ’s Institute on Aging, is conducting a survey into the health of Tribal elders.  Statistics developed from this survey will be used as a basis to assess needs and design new health programs.  

-                           The Tribe obtained a grant from Pacific University to bring a vision screening clinic to Chiloquin during September 1984.  All school children, both Indian and non-Indian, as well as many pre-school children and elders were screened.  Follow up money helped provide further optometric services and, if needed, glasses for those in very low income families.  

-                           The Tribe obtained a grant for a well child clinic which provides medical checkups, immunizations, nutritional advice and parent counseling to both Indian and non-Indian children in the Chiloquin area.  

Education is essential if young Klamath are to break the cycle of poverty.  

-                           The Tribe is investigating funding for a Head Start program.

-                           Young people wishing to go to college need both counseling and scholarship information.  The Tribe is compiling information on schools with programs of interest to our members as well as on available scholarships.  

-                           Those who would prefer to pursue a trade or vocation also need appropriate education.  The Tribe is exploring funding for the establishment of adult education courses in Auto Mechanics, Word Processing and Water and Wildlife Technology.  

Environmental concern is prompted by the Tribe’s Treaty responsibility to manage water and wildlife resources on former reservation land.  The Tribe is conducting ongoing studies into the ecology and life cycle of the mullet, trout and deer populations.  

Cultural awareness is important to pride and self-esteem.  The Klamath Tribe seeks to encourage and promote cultural sharing between the elders and the young.  Further, it is part of the Tribal plan to regain possession of Tribal archives and artifacts so they will be available for education of both Tribal members and scholars interested in Klamath culture.  

-                           The Tribe has recently regained possession of two fine collections of Indian artifacts.  The Hinks collection is currently on loan to the Tribe, but will be donated to the Klamath if a Museum is established.  The collection of artifacts formerly in the Klamath Memorial Museum is now owned by the Klamath Tribe.  

-                           A historical committee is being formed to chart the road to enhanced cultural awareness for the Klamath.  

-                           The Tribe is seeking funding for the revival of the craft of twined basketry.  

-                           The Tribe is seeking funding for a small museum in the Chiloquin area.  

Today, over thirty years after termination, the Klamath Tribe is on the move.  Led by a forward looking Executive Board, the Tribe has defined for itself what its goals and objectives should be.  The highly professional staff seeks funding for new programs and stands ready to administer these programs as they are funded.  We have the creative imagination to dream.  We are capable of the hard work needed to convert dreams into reality.  With a little help from our friends, we too will overcome.