18
MARCH 1, 2017
S moke S ignals
'These were treaty dictations'
Miller said that in
studying Thomas Jef-
ferson he learned that
Jefferson knew about
federally recognized Tribes.
international law and
“Before European contact,
the concept of how Eu-
the Northwest was home to
ropeans claimed indig-
a diverse mix of languages
enous lands. His book
and culture. A new docu-
asks, “What if Lewis
mentary looks at the deci-
and Clark weren’t on
mation of Oregon’s Native
a military expedition
Tribes and illuminates a
to map the region and
chapter of history that is
open relations with
rarely talked about,” says
the Tribes?” Instead,
the program’s pre-release
Miller wonders if the
materials.
explorers were laying
“All we do is documenta-
the foundation to claim
ries about people or events
land in a fashion simi-
in Oregon history.” Cain
lar to the strategy used
said during a telephone
by Europeans.
interview from his office in
“I think the average
Portland. He has received
American has no idea
two regional Emmy Awards
what manifest destiny
for best director and two
means. We all know the
regional Emmys for best
word,” Miller said. “My
documentary.
first book is all about
Cain said he would often
comparing American
see Native Americans men-
manifest destiny to
tioned in the news because
this international law
of water rights or species
called the Doctrine of
protection issues, but it
Smoke Signals file photo
Discovery. This is the
seemed that people gener-
international law that
ally lacked knowledge about Tribal Cultural Resources Department Manager David Harrelson, right, is interviewed by Eric Cain,
the Europeans have
Oregon’s Tribes and Tribal an Oregon Public Broadcasting “Oregon Experience” series producer, in achaf-hammi, the Tribal
plankhouse, on Jan. 3. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and Harrelson’s interview will be
used since the 1400s
people.
to take and claim the
“I set out to explore what’s featured in an episode of “Oregon Experience” titled “Broken Treaties” airing on OPB on Monday,
lands of indigenous
the situation these days and March 20.
peoples.
ask the question of can we
an aggressive push to try to get
“I claim that Thomas Jefferson
negotiated 19 treaties that were
expect to see more in the future
as much information and give it
knew all about it. He would have
never ratified by Congress and was
of Tribes stepping forward,” said
a voice, which is very admirable,”
studied it in college, he would have
replaced by Palmer in 1853 when
Cain. “I wanted to get an idea of
Harrelson said. “What he shared
studied it in law school and he used
President Franklin Pierce appoint-
what kind of hidden powers might
with me was this is not about tell-
those principles when he practiced
ed him as BIA superintendent.
lie in the treaties signed between
ing
the
whole
story;
this
is
about
law for seven years before he ever
The Willamette Valley Treaty
the government and the Tribes.
getting Oregonians who don’t know
got involved in Virginia politics.”
Commission was formed in 1850
“It turns out really most Orego-
anything about Tribes to be inter-
Miller researched Jefferson’s
and included Oregon Gov. John P.
nians don’t know much about the
ested and get engaged with them.”
law career and found that more
Gaines. The commission eventually
Indians here or their history or
Cain also interviewed Dr. Ste-
than half of his cases involved land
gave way to Dart and Palmer.
what kind of history has transpired
phen Dow Beckham and Judge Rob-
disputes.
“None of them had any competency
since Euro-Americans showed up.”
ert
J.
“Bob”
Miller
for
background
“Jefferson would have known very
in the languages of the people with
Cain has lived in Oregon since
material,
as
well
as
other
Tribal
plainly how Europeans claimed
whom they were dealing,” Beckham
1972 and worked at OPB since
representatives.
rights over indigenous peoples so
said. “The federal government repre-
1987. He interviewed Harrelson
“We’re introducing a lot of brand
my book argues that Lewis and
sentative showed up, held a council,
several times, including an inter-
new material to people,” Cain said.
Clark were part of his attempt to
slaughtered a few beef cattle, served
view that occurred in Grand Ronde
“It’s the story of how over the course
get the Oregon Country for the
a barbecue and harangued the Na-
at achaf-hammi – the Tribe’s plank-
of 150 years the Native people of
United States,” Miller said.
tive people to sign these agreements
house – on Jan. 3.
this
state
went
from
owning
every-
Cain said the land grab by the
ceding their lands.”
“David’s an incredible resource,”
thing to almost nothing. How did
federal government was success-
Beckham said that because of
said Cain. “He is one of the first
that happen? How did that happen
ful and that an important story
the language differences concepts
people I talked to when I set out on
in such a short amount of time?”
remains to be told.
like annuity payments, extension of
this project. He’s great. I think you
Beckham, who is the Pamplin
“That’s what’s driving our story
trust responsibilities and assertion
guys are really lucky to have him.”
Professor of History-Emeritus, at
– the ongoing acquisition of Native
of American sovereignty over Native
Cain said he quickly became
Lewis & Clark College in Portland
lands by the government,” Cain
lands were too “abstract” to be clear-
aware after talking to Harrelson
and
an
expert
on
Native
American
said. “But there is also a really
ly understood let alone negotiated.
and others that the original idea of
treaties, said Native Americans
triumphant story I think here that
“And yet those were the cards that
focusing on all Oregon Tribes and
lost the land through a series of
Tribal people, in spite of everything
were dealt to those who participated
their treaty relationships with the
maneuvers that took advantage
that has been thrown at them, are
in those councils,” Beckham said.
federal government would be an
of the different languages spoken
still here and doing some pretty
Miller teaches law at Arizona
incredible task.
during treaty negotiations.
great stuff. I think there is a lot to
State University and formerly
“My show has sort of transformed
“I
wanted
him
to
understand
that
be learned from the Tribes today.”
taught at Lewis & Clark College as
into a general introduction of the
the
whole
first
round
of
treaty
ne-
Cain said the most important
a colleague of Beckham.
Tribes of Oregon for our viewers
gotiations in western Oregon must
thing he learned while working on
Miller wrote “Native America,
and I try to convey as much overall
have been utterly frustrating for
“Broken Treaties” that he wishes
Discovered and Conquered: Thom-
information about the treaties and
the Native people,” Beckham said.
were more universally accepted
as Jefferson, Lewis and Clark,
what the relationship with the
“Rather than treaty negotiations
is the Tribal outlook of planning
and Manifest Destiny” in 2006. He
government has been over the last
these were treaty dictations.”
seven generations into the future.
filmed his segment in September
200 years,” Cain said. “It’s a huge
Beckham
said
that
Anson
Dart,
“It has become very clear to me
2016 and spoke about his expertise,
story. There are so many stories
Joel Palmer and members of the
that that view of life – there is
which is American Indian policy.
contained in this history and I have
Willamette Valley Treaty Commis-
something inherently good about a
Miller is an enrolled member of the
an hour to tell it. I think we’ve done
sion did not speak Chinuk jargon
view of life on Earth that takes into
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
a pretty good job with what we
and that Natives representing their
account many generations,” Cain
and a sitting member of the Grand
have. It’s a little bit of everything.”
Tribes would not have understood
said. “It seems to be an inherent
Ronde Tribe’s Appellate Court. He
Harrelson said he feels the proj-
concepts set forth in the treaties.
part of Native culture. That’s a
said he shared his theory regarding
ect is ambitious in its approach of
Dart
was
superintendent
for
the
wonderful resource. That’s a pow-
Lewis and Clark and what he views
including information about all
Bureau of Indian Affairs in the
erful attitude to be bringing to life
as their true intention for exploring
nine Oregon Tribes.
Oregon Territory from 1850-52. He
in 2017 America.” 
the Pacific Northwest.
“It’s clear that Eric is making
'BROKEN TREATIES'
continued from front page