Cowlitz people facts for kids
Traditional Cowlitz territory
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| >2,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Washington) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Cowlitz, Sahaptin | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Chehalis, Quinault |
The Cowlitz people are two different groups of Native American people from the Pacific Northwest. They have different cultures and languages.
One group is called the Lower Cowlitz or Cowlitz proper. They are a Coast Salish people. Today, many of them are part of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, the Quinault Indian Nation, or the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.
The other group is the Upper Cowlitz or Taitnapam. They speak a Sahaptin language. Many of them are part of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
The traditional lands of the Cowlitz people are in western Washington state in the United States.
Cowlitz Tribal Groups
The Cowlitz people are made up of different groups or bands. There is some discussion about their history and languages. This is important for land claims and agreements with the U.S. government.
Many people believe that the name "Cowlitz" was used by Europeans to describe different Native American groups living in the whole Cowlitz River area. These groups had different cultures and languages.
Here are the main Cowlitz tribal groups:
- The Lower Cowlitz or Cowlitz proper: Their name means "The People Who Seek Their Medicine Spirit." They lived in about 30 villages along the lower Cowlitz River and the Toutle River. Most of them are now part of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Some are also part of the Quinault Indian Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.
- The Upper Cowlitz or Taidnapam: Their name means "People of the Tieton River." They lived in fourteen villages along the upper Cowlitz River, the Cispus River, and the Tilton River. They were closely connected to the Yakama and Klickitat people who lived east of the Cascade Range and spoke Sahaptin. The Upper Cowlitz often married people from the Lower Cowlitz. Today, they are known as the Yakima Cowlitz or Cowlitz Klickitat Band and are part of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
- The Lewis River Cowlitz: These people lived along the Upper Lewis River and the highest parts of the Nisqually River. They were neighbors with their Sahaptin relatives, the Yakama and Klickitat. Today, they are known as the Lewis River Klickitat Band and are part of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
- The Mountain Cowlitz or Kwalhiokwa Cowlitz: They lived between the Upper Chehalis River and the Willapa Hills. They often married people from the Salish-speaking Upper Chehalis and the now-gone Willapa people. Today, they are part of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.
Language
There is also a discussion about the original languages of the Cowlitz tribes.
The language commonly called the Cowlitz language (or Sƛ̕púlmš) is very similar to the Upper Chehalis language. It belongs to the Coast Salish family of languages. The Lower Cowlitz people spoke this language.
For the Upper Cowlitz and Lewis River Cowlitz bands, it is debated whether they originally spoke Sahaptin or if they adopted it later. Some believe they were Sahaptin-speaking people who moved into the Cowlitz River area.
Modeste Demers reported that the Cowlitz people were good at speaking Chinook Jargon. This was a trade language used by many different Native American groups.
Government
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe was officially recognized by the U.S. federal government on February 14, 2000. This recognition was confirmed again in 2002. They now have their own federally recognized tribal lands, which is like a reservation, in Ridgefield, Washington. The main offices for the tribe are in Longview, Washington.
The Cowlitz people's way of governing themselves has changed over time. It went from having strong chiefs to an elected system with a president in the early 1900s. After 1950, they started using a constitutional system with an elected Tribal Council.
Many leaders have guided the Cowlitz people throughout history. Some important chiefs in the 1800s included Chief How-How, Chief Kiscox, and Chief Antoine Stockum. In the 1900s and 2000s, leaders included President Dan Plamondon, Chairman Roy Wilson, and Chairman Bill Iyall.
The current leader of the Cowlitz Tribe General Council is Patty Kinswa-Gaiser.
Culture
The Cowlitz tribe was special because they did not usually live right on the coast or have easy access to saltwater. The resources from the Columbia River were also not their main focus. While salmon was important for food, it was not as central to their diet as it was for other tribes. The Cowlitz were skilled hunters. They also gathered many roots for food and used horses for different purposes.
The Cowlitz tribe followed a yearly cycle. They lived in certain places during different seasons to gather food. This helped them prepare for the cold winter months.
- In spring, the Cowlitz people left their cedar houses near rivers and streams. They traveled by canoe and horseback to gather camas bulbs, roots, barks, and grasses. They used these materials to make mats, fishing nets, and baskets.
- In summer, they moved to higher lands to pick and gather seasonal berries.
- In fall, the Cowlitz returned to their cedar homes along the river. They harvested salmon for the coming winter.
Hunting and fishing happened all year, but roots and fruits were gathered only when they were in season.
The Cowlitz, like the Chinookian tribes, had a custom of gently flattening the heads of babies. This was a sign of freedom and intelligence. Mothers would place their newborn infants on a wooden board. A pad was placed on the baby's forehead, and a smooth piece of bark was strapped on. This created gentle pressure on the forehead. This process was done until the baby was about eight to twelve months old. The result was a head shape that was flat in the front and higher at the top. This practice was not seen as harmful. In fact, some children would cry until they were placed back into the head-flattening device.
The Cowlitz people made beautiful coiled baskets with strong geometric patterns. These baskets were made from bear grass, cedar root, horsetail root, and cedar bark. They used them to gather berries and fruits. The colors for the baskets came from bright fruits and vegetables like beets or blackberries. These baskets were often repaired and passed down through many generations.
Today, the Cowlitz people continue to practice and share their culture.
History
The Cowlitz tribe historically lived along the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers. They also had a strong presence at Fort Vancouver.
The first known European to meet the Cowlitz was Simon Plamondon from Quebec, Canada. He was a fur trapper for Fort Astoria. In 1818, during his first trip up the Cowlitz River, Simon was captured by Chief Scanewea of the Lower Cowlitz. He was asked to stay with the tribe and earn their trust by trading goods for furs. After gaining their trust, he married Chief Scanewea's daughter, Thas-e-muth. When Chief Scanewea passed away, Plamondon inherited much of his land. He and his wife settled on the Cowlitz Prairie and had four children. Plamondon worked for the Hudson's Bay Company until 1837. In 1838, he helped build Cowlitz Farm.
In December 1838, Catholic missionaries began visiting the Cowlitz tribe. François N. Blanchet, a Catholic Priest, arrived near Toledo, Washington, and started the St. Francis Xavier Mission. He hoped the Cowlitz would fully adopt Catholicism, but they also kept their Native spiritual beliefs. Another priest, Father Modeste Demers, continued the teachings. The Cowlitz people reportedly told French-Canadian farmers, "We want to do something for them, we will work, make fences, and whatever they wish us to do."
When more American settlers arrived, there were disagreements over land. The 1846 Oregon Treaty gave the U.S. government control over lands that were once under British influence. Washington governor Isaac Stevens tried to make treaties with Native American tribes. The Chehalis River Treaty, which included the Cowlitz tribe, was one of these. However, Governor Stevens did not listen to the tribe leaders' concerns, so the document was never signed. During this time, a fever affected the tribe. George Gibbs, Stevens's assistant, noted that the Cowlitz, once a large and powerful tribe, were becoming much smaller.
This situation led to conflicts in 1855–1856. The U.S. Army was called in to help settle disputes with Native American tribes. The Cowlitz tribe stayed neutral during these conflicts. They were promised reservation lands if they remained peaceful. However, when they returned home, they found their land damaged and property stolen.
In the 1960s, Dale M. Kinkade recorded interviews about the Cowlitz Language. These recordings became a big part of the Lower Cowlitz dictionary used by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe today.
The Cowlitz tribe did not receive official federal recognition until the year 2000.
Notable Cowlitz people
- David Barnett
- Rosalie Fish
- Debora Iyall
- T.A. Peterman
- Elissa Washuta
