Watlala facts for kids

The Watlala were a group of Native American people. They spoke a language from the Chinookan family. They lived in the green areas near the Columbia River and Willamette River in Oregon and Washington.

The Watlala made their homes in the meadows near what is now Sams Walker Day Use Site and St. Cloud Ranch Day Use Site. They built strong houses from cedar planks, often partly dug into the earth. For temporary stays, they used willow branches to make shelters.

The Cascade Indians

The Watlala were also known as the Cascade Indians. They lived near the powerful waterfalls, or cascades, of the Columbia River. They were skilled at fishing and hunting the animals found in the Cascade area.

In 1805 and 1806, explorers Lewis and Clark estimated that about 2,800 Watlala people lived there. By 1870, their population, along with the Wasco tribe, was thought to be around 3,200. Many different tribes lived near the cascades because it was a great fishing spot. This made it hard to always know exactly who was part of the Watlala tribe. Some other groups, like the Cathlakaheckit and Clahclellah, might have been part of the Watlala or joined them later.

Changes and Challenges

In 1829, a serious illness spread among the Native American tribes in the region. This sickness, called "ague fever," caused many people to become very ill. In just one summer, about four out of every five people died. Entire villages became empty. The people who survived often joined together with other groups.

After this illness, the Watlala seemed to be the main group left. Other tribes who survived likely joined with them. White settlers often called them the Cascade Indians. By 1854, only about 80 Watlala people were reported to be alive.

Joining Other Tribes

In 1855, the Watlala joined the Wasco tribe in signing the Wasco Treaty. They were known in the treaty as the "Ki-gal-twal-la band of the Wascoes" and the "Dog River band of the Wasco." After this, they moved to the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon.

From then on, the Watlala were no longer counted separately. Many of them became part of the Wasco tribe. Some of the Watlala who did not join the Wasco were thought to have joined the Wishram tribe instead.