WE CAN RIGHT A WRONG

**UPDATED BILL # HR 3084** Support the Chinook Nation Restoration Bill H.R. 3084
Join Cause **UPDATED BILL # HR 3084** Support the Chinook Nation Restoration Bill H.R. 3084
To rightfully restore Federal recognition to the Chinook Nation.

390 members $740 raised .Home About Members Impact ...About
The Chinook Indian Nation consists of five tribes that have inhabited the Lower Columbia River since time immemorial. These tribes are the Clatsop, Cathlamet, Wahkiakum, Willapa and the Lower Chinook. The Tribe is located in Southwestern Washington along the banks of the Columbia River.

The Tribe also describes its jurisdiction as those original – aboriginal lands of the Lower Band of Chinook Indians, the Wahkiakum Band, the Willapa Band, the Cathlamet Band and the Clatsop Band as described in treaties negotiated by Anson Dart, Superintendent of the Oregon Agency in 1851 and/or the Treaty of Olympia of 1855.

Historically the Tribe is well known for its canoemanship, its influence in the indigenous trade of the Northwest and in the creation of the prolific trade pidgin, Chinook Jargon (Chinook Wawa). Contact and interaction with white traders began as early as 1792 with Captain Robert Gray and continuous interaction and trading continued on from that time with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Company, the federal government including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and preceding agencies and the State of Washington.

The Tribe has experienced since the initial contact with non Indians widely varying official contact, recognition and acceptance. In 1954 the federal government enacted the Oregon Termination Act. While no one ever notified the Chinook that they were terminated in this Act, the Tribe was later removed from the list of services in 1967. This was also again done without notification. In fact, the Tribe was never officially or otherwise notified of termination until 2002. The Tribe to this day maintains that that act was illegal.

The Tribe however, recognizing the need to fight this action has sought to secure its federal recognition as a Tribe. Through the submission of a petition for federal acknowledgement commencing the early 1990’s, the Tribe has sought resolution of this issue. This has resulted in recognition to be granted in 2001 only to be rescinded in 2002 by officials of the Bush Administration. Throughout the entire history of contact especially with the federal government, the apparent lack of consistency and even respect is evident. For the Chinook Nation this appears to be a very simple act of correcting the many years of neglect.

As a result of this unfortunate circumstance and condition, the Tribe has functioned successfully as a non profit corporation with governing body of nine members including a chairman, vice chairman and secretary-treasurer. Terms of office are for 3 years and all members and officers of the governing body are elected from the general membership. General membership is determined by the bylaws which is briefly described as descendents of ancestors listed in certain rolls and by rules of adoption. There are currently 2,802 enrolled members of the Chinook Indian Nation. (JWA, 2008)
Donations Go To…
CONFEDERATED LOWER CHINOOK TRIBES AND BANDS
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit
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Positions
1.The U.S. recognized the tribe in the Dart (1851) & the Stevens (1855) Treaties, but neither treaty was ratified.
2.The Chinooks lost their historic lands on the Columbia River & a great number of them succumbed to poverty & disease in the 19th century.
3.Congress in 1911 (36 Stat. 1345) provided restitution to the Chinook people in the form of allotments of land on existing Indian reservations.
4.The only basis for termination of Federal Recognition was the naming of 4 tribes in the Chinook Nation on the Western Ore. Termination Act of ’54.
5.The Chinook people have survived & maintained their language, Chinookwawa, & culture despite decades of neglect by the U.S.
How large is the cause?

Current Size:
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Next Size:
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Members Needed:
110 more
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Category: Public Advocacy - Community Improvement

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Chinook
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