|
 he rich resources of the wetlands of the Lower Columbia, from the coast to the mouth of the Sandy River, were controlled by various bands of people who spoke dialects of the Chinookan language. These bands were made up of extended families, including people from other tribes who had married into the community. These groups followed the lead of a head-person who was selected on the basis of strong and responsible leadership.
 Map showing locations of tribes at contact period. (Suttles:1990, and Walker:1998)
CLICK TO ENLARGE Physiographic map of lower Columbia
River, adapted from Raisz:1959
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Three groups of Lower Chinooks occupied the area from the coast to the Cowlitz River: the Chinook proper, the Clatsops, and the Cathlamets. The closely allied Tillamooks lived just to the south along the Pacific Coast. Various bands of Upper Chinooks occupied the area between the Cowlitz and Sandy River. These groups include those who lived around Wappato (Sauvie) Island and at the village of Cathlopotle, including the Multnomah (Wappato) and Clackamas bands.
Click here to view chart of tribal names and locations.
People who spoke different languages lived all around these Chinook-speakers. Upland groups, who occupied higher elevations away from the river, and coastal groups, north and south of the Chinooks and Clatsops, had access to different resources. They traded with each other and with Columbia River villages to obtain all the resources they needed. For example, groups who had access to elk, deer and berries traded with those who controlled the salmon runs. These trade relationships were stabilized through intermarriage.
Today, the Chinook Tribe is without any reserved lands. Many Chinook descendants live around Willapa Bay and in scattered communities throughout western Washington and Oregon. The Chinook Tribal headquarters is in Chinook, Washington. It is a sad irony for them that the people who hosted Lewis and Clark and their party throughout the winter of 1805-06 are not recognized by the U.S. Government. They have been struggling unsuccessfully for such recognition for many years.
 |  |
| Quicktime  | | WMV  | | | |
| Hereditary Chief of the Chinook and descendant of Chief Concomly tells about the different bands of Chinook people. |
|
| Quicktime | | WMV | | | |
| Tony Johnson tells about the source of names for some Chinook villages. |
What Endures for Peoples Along the Cascades...
 Courtesy of Tony Johnson Today the Chinook people identify themselves in many ways. Their culture is a rich confluence of old traditions and modern ways of life. Lewis and Clark witnessed but a brief moment in a society that has continued to grow, change and adapt.
To understand what it means to be Chinook, it is crucial to understand what elements of Chinook identity have withstood the test of time, despite the physical, cultural and political changes in their environment. Here, tribal members share about three such elements - traditional foods, cures and art.
|
