Takelma facts for kids
The Takelma (also called Dagelma) are a group of Native American people. They originally lived in the Rogue Valley in southwestern Oregon. Most of their villages were located along the Rogue River. The name Takelma means "Those Along the River."
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History of the Takelma People
Not as much is known about the Takelma people's way of life compared to their neighbors. Their homeland was protected by mountains, so settlers arrived there later. However, once people started moving in, things changed very quickly.
Gold Rush and New Settlers
In 1852, gold was discovered in the region. This led to the first white settlements. The Takelma people who survived were forced to move to reservations in 1856. Settlers and Native Americans lived in the area together for less than four years.
The Takelma's land was very good for farming, especially along the Rogue River. Because of this, settlers took their land. Most newcomers were not interested in learning about the Takelma. They saw them as a problem. They wrote little about the Takelma, mostly just about conflicts. Other Native American groups nearby, like the Shastan and Rogue River Athabascan peoples, lived on tougher land. Their cultures and languages stayed more complete after colonization.
Rogue River Wars and Relocation
Fights between settlers and Native Americans in southwest Oregon grew worse. These conflicts became known as the Rogue River Wars. Some people, called "cultural intermediaries," tried to create peaceful meetings. Historian Nathan Douthit believes that without these efforts, the Takelma might have been completely wiped out instead of just moved.
In 1856, the U.S. government forced the surviving Takelma to move. They were sent to the Coast Indian Reservation (now the Siletz Reservation) on the rainy northern Oregon coast. This was very different from their dry homeland. Many Takelma died on the way to the Siletz and Grand Ronde Indian Reservations. The Grand Ronde reservation is now known as the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. Many also died on the reservations from sickness, sadness, and not enough food.
Life on the Reservations
Indian agents taught the Takelma farming skills. They also told them not to speak their own language. The agents believed that learning English and new skills would help them live better lives. On the reservations, the Takelma lived with Native Americans from many different cultures. They married people from other cultures, both on and off the reservation. This made it harder to pass on the Takelma language and culture to their children.
Recording Takelma Culture
Many years later, experts called anthropologists started to interview Takelma descendants. They recorded information about their language and way of life. Linguists Edward Sapir and John Peabody Harrington worked with Takelma descendants to learn more.
In the late 1980s, Agnes Baker Pilgrim became an important spokesperson for the Takelma. She was the granddaughter of Takelma chief George Harney.
Restoring Traditions
In 1994, the Takelma people held a Sacred Salmon Ceremony. This was the first time in 150 years. Another project, the Takelma Intertribal Project, started in 2000. This group works to bring back edible, medicinal, and basket-making plants. They use traditional methods like burning and pruning.
In the 2010 census, 16 people said they had Takelma ancestry. Five of them were full-blooded Takelma.
Takelma Culture and Daily Life
How the Takelma Lived
The Takelma people were "foragers." This means they found their food from nature. They collected plants and insects, fished, and hunted. The only plant they grew was a native tobacco. The Takelma lived in small groups of related men and their families.
Southwest Oregon has clear seasons. The Takelma adapted to these seasons. They spent spring, summer, and early fall collecting and storing food for winter.
Food Sources
The Rogue River was very important for food. It provided salmon and other fish. In the past, many salmon swam up the river. Men worked together to catch salmon with nets and spears. Women cleaned and dried the fish. This gave the Takelma a lot of protein for much of the year.
If salmon runs were not good, they hunted other animals. These included deer, elk, beaver, bear, antelope, and bighorn sheep. Smaller animals like squirrels, rabbits, and gophers were also caught. Yellowjacket larvae and grasshoppers were also eaten for energy.
The Takelma needed carbohydrates and vitamins. They got these from various plants. They focused on two main plant foods: acorns and camas. They gathered acorns from Oregon white oak and California black oak trees. When these foods were not available, women also gathered seeds from native grasses and tarweed. They also dug up roots and collected small fruits.
Takelma Homes
During the winter, the Takelma lived in homes partly dug into the ground. These homes had walls made of sugar pine planks. Poorer people lived in homes made of poles and bark. These were covered with earth and dry leaves for warmth.
Typically, two tall poles held up a main horizontal pole. Beds made of cat-tail mats were placed near the fire pit. There were openings in the roof for smoke to escape. Takelma homes were similar to those of the Klamath and Modoc peoples to the east. They were also like the homes of the Shasta to the south. One old story describes a large plank house that could hold 100 people. However, archaeologists usually find remains of much smaller homes. In the warmer summer months, the Takelma lived in brush shelters or sometimes did not use shelters at all.
See also
In Spanish: Takelma para niños
