COW CREEK BAND

THE UMPQUA TRIBE IS ONE OF 9 FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS IN OREGON. IT IS IN THE SOUTHWEST PART OF OREGON. IT HAS 1390 MEMBERS GOVERNED BY AN 11 MEMBER COUNCIL THEY HAVE A RICH HISTORY IN SOUTHERN OREGON THAT REFLECTS HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, AND THE DESIRE TO BE SELF RELIANT.

CERTAIN MEDICINE TREES WERE USED FOR MANY MEDICINAL PURPOSES. THE BARK WAS PEELED AWAY FROM THE TREES FOR THE SAP AND OTHER PARTS OF THE TREE WERE USED FOR HEALING. THE COW CREEK TRIBE IS UNIQUE AS THEY WERE ONE OF THE 1ST 2 TRIBES IN OREGON TO SECURE A TREATY WITH THE U S GOVERNMENT IN 1853. AS A RESULT OF THE TREATY THEY BECAME A LAND LESS TRIBE AND GAVE 800 SQUARE MILES TO THE GOVERNMENT. THEY WERE PAID 2,3 CENTS PER ACRE FOR THE LAND. THE GOVERNMENT SOLD THE LAND TO SETTLERS FOR $1.25 AN ACRE. THE TREATY PROMISED THEM HEALTH CARE, HOUSING AND EDUCATION. HOWEVER THE TREATY WAS IGNORED FOR A CENTURY! IN 1980 THEY TOOK THE LAND CLAIMS CASE TO COURT AND WON $1.5 MILLION! THEY PUT THIS IN AN INVESTMENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND HOUSING, IN ORDER TO CREATE A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL MEMBERS.

THEY TRADITIONALLY LIVED ALONG THE SOUTH UMPQUA RIVER DRAINAGE . THE TRIBE WAS MOBILE AND CAUGHT ABUNDANT ELK, DEER, SALMON, AND STEELHEAD TROUT, AND GATHERED HUCKLEBERRIES . THEY USED THE MEDICINE TREE , AS WELL IN JACKSON CREEK. THERE ANCESTRAL LANDS DEMANDED WORK FROM IT'S OCCUPANTS. THE MEN HUNTED WHILE THE WOMEN WOVE BASKETS OF HAZELBARK, BEAR GRASS, AND MAIDEN HAIR FERN STEMS. MANY KIDS WERE SENT TO THE INDIAN SCHOOL IN NORTHERN OREGON. THE SCHOOLS CUT OFF THEIR BEAUTIFUL LONG HAIR.

THERE PLANTS WERE AN IMPORTANT PART OF FOOD GATHERING : HUCKLEBERRIES, BLACK BERRIES , BLACK CAPS, TARWEED, HAZEL, , CHINQUAPIN NUTS, ACORNS, WILD ONION, MINERS LETTUCE, CAMAS, MUSHROOMS, AND ROOTS. MEDICINAL PLANTS WERE COLLECTED AS WELL - SNAKEWEED WAS FOR BURNS, CUTS AND BLOOD POISONING, MULLEIN LEAVES WERE STEEPED FOR COUGH SYRUP, GINGER TEA CURED FEVER. THEIR TRADITIONAL HOMES WERE DESIGNED BY DIGGING EXCAVATIONS AND MAKING POLES OF PINE AND USING PINE BOARDS FOR THE ROOF. SOME ROCK SHELTERS ALSO WERE USED FOR HOMES. DURING SALMON RUNS THEY USED FUNNEL SHAPED BASKETS IN CHANNELS .

DURING THE 1850'S WHEN GOLD WAS DISCOVERED THE MINERS CAME IN WHO FILED CLAIMS ON LOCAL RIVERS AND STREAMS DESTROYING SALMON RUNS. EPIDEMICS KILLED MANY NATIVES AND THEIR CHIEF. THEY WERE REMOVED TO THE RESERVATION IN NORTHERN OREGON. THEY WERE PROMISED A WONDERFUL LIFE ON THE RESERVATION. A BOY WAS SENT TO THEIR RESERVATION AN WAS TERRIFIED BY WHAT HE SAW! THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS SENT PEOPLE TO KILLL CONCOW CREEK PEOPLE THEY REMAINED IN SECLUSION. MANY MARRIED PIONEERS, MINERS, AND TRADERS.

THEY NEVER RECEIVED THEIR RESERVATION AS THE TREATY PROMISED. THEY CONTINUE TO HOLD COUNCIL MEETINGS. THEY BEGAN TO ENERGIZE WHAT THEIR ANCESTORS ALREADY BEGAN TO ENERGIZE AND PURSUE. TODAY THEY ARE BUYING BACK LAND AND OPERATING VARIOUS BUSINESSES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRIBE IN ROSEBERG. TODAY THEY HAVE A HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER. TODAY THEY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND TO THE COUNTY. THEY HAVE A HOTEL AND A CASINO RESORT AS WELL, AND AN INDIAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

COWCREEK.COM