Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
July 1, 2020
Page 5
More vital than ever, the Treaty turns 165
F or the Confederated Tribes
of Warm Springs—in relation to
the United States and all other sov-
ereign governments—the Treaty of
1855 is the founding document.
Each year since the 1960s the
Confederated Tribes had hosted Pi-
Ume-Sha, observing the anniver-
sary of the signing of the treaty.
This year—for the safety of the
membership—the tribes had to can-
cel powwow: At this time the risk
of inviting hundreds of visitors
onto the reservation poses too great
a risk of spreading the coronavirus,
Tribal Council decided in late
spring.
Still, and clearly, the anniver-
sary of the Treaty of 1855—this
year marking its One-Hundred
and Sixty-Fifth year—is to be rec-
ognized. For the treaty in a sense
is really all around us: In the ex-
istence of reser vation itself, the
enrollment; and in the gathering ,
fishing and hunting on the Ceded
Lands.
The binding legal aspects of the
document are vital to this day, in-
voked in actions of Tribal Coun-
cil; as well as by individuals exer-
cising off-reservation rights.
For some broad historical con-
text: In 1855 the President of
the United States was Franklin
Pierce, known for his inability to
addr ess sla ver y, leaving this to
Abraham Lincoln. Meanwhile
the overriding issue in the Pacific
Northwest was the growing wave of
non-Indian settlers, bringing dev-
astating illness, and land disputes.
The solution for the United
States was a series of treaties with
tribes throughout the region, in-
cluding the Middle Bands of Or-
egon.
Regarding the Warm Springs
confederation: The tribes held a
General Council gathering , lasting
several days, in June of 1855.
Then on June 25 of that year—it
was a Monday—tribal leaders met
at the Treaty Oak with officials
from the United States government.
On the tribal side were leaders
from the Taih, Wyam, Tenino, and
Dock-Spus Bands of the Walla-
Walla; and the Dalles, Ki-Gal-
Twal-La, and the Dog River
Bands of the Wasco. Represent-
ing the United States was Joel
Palmer, superintendent of Indian
Affairs in the Oregon Territor y.
At the Treaty Oak that Mon-
day they signed the document: This
involved the creation of the reser-
vation, a tribally sovereign area of
some 1,019 square miles; and re-
moval to the reservation of many
Indians from their Columbia River
homeland. The treaty reserved the
tribal fishing , hunting and gath-
ering rights on the traditional
‘ceded’ lands—some 10 million-
plus acres—which had always ex-
isted, and always will. The fol-
lowing is the actual language of
the Treaty of 1855:
Treaty of Wasco, Colum-
bia River, Oregon Territory
w i t h t h e Ta i h , Wya m ,
Courtesy CTWS Governmental Affairs
This is believed to be a photograph of the Treaty Oak, site of the signing of the Treaty of 1855
of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation. It was located on private property
on Mill Creek at the Columbia River Gorge.
Te n i n o , & D o c k - S p u s
Bands of the Walla-Walla,
and the Dalles, Ki-Gal-
Twa l - L a , a n d t h e D og
River Bands of the Wasco.
June 25, 1855
(12 Stat., 963. Ratified Mar.
8, 1859. Proclaimed Apr. 18,
1859.)
Articles of agreement and
convention made and concluded
at Wasco, near the Dalles of the
Columbia River, in Oregon Ter-
ritory, by Joel Palmer, superinten-
dent of Indian affairs, on the part
of the United States, and the fol-
lowing-named chiefs and head-
men of the confederated tribes
and bands of Indians, residing in
Middle Oregon, they being duly
authorized thereto by their re-
spective bands, to wit:
Sym-tustus, Locks-quis-sa,
Shick-a-me, and Kuck-up, chiefs
of the Taih or Upper De Chutes
band of Walla-Wallas; Stocket-ly
and Iso, chiefs of the Wyam or
Lower De Chutes band of Walla-
Wallas; Alexis and Talkish, chiefs
of the Tenino band of Walla-
Wallas; Yise, chief of the Dock-
Spus or John Day’s River band
of Walla-Wallas; Mark, William
Chenook, and Cush-Kella, chiefs
of the Dalles band of the
Wascoes; Toh-simph, chief of the
Ki-gal-twal-la band of Wascoes;
and Wal-la-chin, chief of the Dog
River band of Wascoes.
Article 1. The above-named
confederated bands of Indians
cede to the United States all their
right, title, and claim to all and
every part of the country claimed
by them, included in the follow-
ing boundaries, to wit:
Commencing in the middle of
the Columbia River, at the Cas-
cade Falls, and running thence
southerly to the summit of the
Cascade Mountains; thence along
said summit to the forty-fourth
parallel of north latitude; thence
east on that parallel to the sum-
mit of the Blue Mountains, or the
western boundary of the Sho-
sho-ne or Snake country; thence
northerly along that summit to a
point due east from the head-
waters of Willow Creek; thence
west to the head-waters of said
creek; thence down said stream
to its junction with the Columbia
River; and thence down the chan-
nel of the Columbia River to the
place of beginning.
Provided, however, that so
much of the country described
above as is contained in the fol-
lowing boundaries, shall, until oth-
erwise directed by the President
of the United States, be set apart
as a residence for said Indians,
which tract for the purposes con-
templated shall be held and re-
garded as an Indian reservation,
to wit:
Commencing in the middle of
the channel of the De Chutes
River opposite the eastern termi-
nation of a range of high lands
usually known as the Mutton
Mountains; thence westerly to the
summit of said range, along the
divide to its connection with the
Cascade Mountains; thence to the
summit of said mountains; thence
southerly to Mount Jefferson;
thence down the main branch of
De Chutes River; heading in this
peak, to its junction with De
Chutes River; and thence down
the middle of the channel of said
river to the place of beginning.
All of which tract shall be set
apart, and, so far as necessary, sur-
veyed and marked out for their
exclusive use; nor shall any white
person be permitted to reside
upon the same without the con-
current permission of the agent
and superintendent.
The said bands and tribes agree
to remove to and settle upon the
same within one year after the
ratification of this treaty, with-
out any additional expense to the
United States other than is pro-
vided for by this treaty; and, un-
til the expiration of the time
specified, the said bands shall be
permitted to occupy and reside
upon the tracts now possessed
by them, guaranteeing to all white
citizens the right to enter upon
and occupy as settlers any lands
not included in said reservation,
and not actually enclosed by said
Indians.
Provided, however, That prior
to the removal of said Indians
to said reservation, and before
any improvements contemplated
by this treaty shall have been
commenced, that if the three
principal bands, to wit: the
Wascopum, Tiah, or Upper De
Chutes, and the Lower De
Chutes bands of Walla-Wallas
shall express in council, a desire
that some other reservation may
be selected for them, that the
three bands named may select
each three persons of their re-
spective bands, who with the su-
perintendent of Indian affairs or
agent, as may by him be directed,
shall proceed to examine, and if
another location can be selected,
better suited to the condition and
wants of said Indians, that is un-
occupied by the whites, and upon
which the board of commission-
ers thus selected may agree, the
same shall be declared a reser-
vation for said Indians, instead
of the tract named in this treaty.
Provided, also, That the ex-
clusive right of taking fish in the
streams running through and
bordering said reservation is
hereby secured to said Indians;
and at all other usual and accus-
tomed stations, in common with
citizens of the United States, and
of erecting suitable houses for
curing the same; also the privi-
From Warm Springs Holistic Health: Stay home, Don’t stay still
by Alicia Oberholzer
Physical Therapist
W.S. Holistic Health
Walking is a simple form of
exercise that can greatly improve
your overall health. Here are a few
tips on how to get started and move
forward with your program.
Set a goal: The American
Heart Association, American Dia-
betes Association, and American
Cancer Foundation recommend
30 minutes of aerobic exercise,
five days per week.
First moves: When getting
started, it is okay to break up the
30 minutes into shorter sessions
throughout the day. An example
of this would be
10-minute walks
spaced between
the morning, af-
ternoon,
and
evening. You can
work your way up
to 15 minutes,
two times per day;
and eventually the
full 30 minutes.
Do your best and progress gradu-
ally. The most important part is
getting motivated and moving.
Progression: A good rule of
thumb is to increase your training
volume by 10 percent per week.
This allows your body to safely
adapt to your new routine.
Once you reach 30
minutes of duration,
try to increase your
speed. Researchers at
the Mayo Clinic found
that individuals with a
brisk walking pace
lived 15-20 years
longer than those who
walked at a slower
pace.
Another way to progress your
walking is to embark on trails with
uneven ground. This will not only
increase the difficulty of your
work out, but also improve your
balance and strength.
Lastly, Add an incline: Walk-
ing uphill is a great way to increase
your heart rate, challenge your
muscles, and burn more calories.
Camelback awaits!
Fun Fact: A study out of
Stanford University found that
those who walked in nature expe-
rienced less anxiety, more positive
thoughts, and improved memory
than those who walked in an ur-
ban setting. This is one of many
reasons to take a walk in the
woods!
Warm Springs Holistic Health
is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday. Appointments are
required. Call 541-777-2663 to
learn more. The center, a program
of Managed Care, is located on
campus next to the courthouse.
lege of hunting, gathering roots
and berries, and pasturing their
stock on unclaimed lands, in com-
mon with citizens, is secured to
them.
And provided, also, That if any
band or bands of Indians, resid-
ing in and claiming any portion or
portions of the country in this
article, shall not accede to the
terms of this treaty, then the bands
becoming parties hereunto agree
to receive such part of the sev-
eral and other payments herein
named as a consideration for the
entire country described as afore-
said as shall be in the proportion
that their aggregate number may
have to the whole number of In-
dians residing in and claiming the
entire country aforesaid, as con-
sideration and payment in full for
the tracts in said country claimed
by them.
And provided, also, That where
substantial improvements have
been made by any members of
the bands being parties to this
treaty, who are compelled to aban-
don them in consequence of said
treaty, the same shall be valued,
under the direction of the Presi-
dent of the United States, and
payment made therefor; or, in lieu
of said payment, improvements
of equal extent and value at their
option shall be made for them on
the tracts assigned to each respec-
tively.
Article 2. In consideration of,
and payment for, the country
hereby ceded, the United States
agree to pay the bands and tribes
of Indians claiming territory and
residing in said country, the sev-
eral sums of money following, to
wit:
Eight thousand dollars per
annum for the first five years,
commencing on the first day of
September, 1856, or as soon
thereafter as practicable. Six
thousand dollars per annum for
the term of five years next suc-
ceeding the first five. Four thou-
sand dollars per annum for the
term of five years next succeed-
ing the second five; and Two
thousand dollars per annum for
the term of five years next suc-
ceeding the third five.
All of which several sums of
money shall be expended for the
use and benefit of the confeder-
ated bands, under the direction of
the President of the United States,
who may from time to time, at
his discretion determine what pro-
portion thereof shall be expended
for such objects as in his judgment
will promote their well-being and
advance them in civilization; for
their moral improvement and edu-
cation; for building, opening and
fencing farms, breaking land, pro-
viding teams, stock, agricultural
implements, seeds, &c.; for cloth-
ing, provisions, and tools; for
medical purposes, providing me-
chanics and farmers, and for arms
and ammunition.
See THE TREATY on 7
Sanitation
pickup
Wa r m
Sp r i n g s
Sanitation will do the
Friday trash pick-up
routes this Thursday,
July 2, due to the
Fourth of July holi-
day.
People who nor-
mally have their totes
out Thursday night for
Friday pick up will
need to set them out
on the road on
Wednesday evening,
so they can be
picked up Thursday
morning.