Umpqua Indigenous Peoples: History and Tribal Affiliations
The indigenous landscape of southwestern Oregon is defined by a rich tapestry of distinct linguistic and cultural groups. Among the most prominent are the peoples of the Umpqua region, comprising the Lower Umpqua, Upper Umpqua, the Cow Creek Band, and the Southern Molalla. These groups, while sharing a geographic region, possess unique origins, languages, and historical trajectories.
The Lower Umpqua (Kuitsh)
The Lower Umpqua people, who referred to themselves as Kuitsh, Quuiič, or Quuiich, meaning "The Southern People," inhabited the coastal region from the Siltcoos River south to Tenmile Creek prior to European settlement. Their identity was closely tied to their language, as they spoke the Lower Umpqua dialect of the Siuslaw language.
Today, the descendants of the Lower Umpqua are represented within several tribal entities, including the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
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The Upper Umpqua
Located further inland, the Upper Umpqua people resided primarily along the South Umpqua River near present-day Roseburg, Oregon, and the Umpqua River upstream from the head of tide at Scottsburg. They identified themselves as Etnemitane, Tl'uu-dv-nee-yu (meaning "prairie people"), or simply Dv-nee-yu / Dv-ne ("people").
The Upper Umpqua language is now extinct, but it once belonged to the Oregon Athabaskan cluster, a group of four closely related Pacific Coast Athabaskan languages. Neighboring Athapascan speakers referred to them as the "Umpqua River People," with the Chetco-Tolowa term Ûm-́kwa-me serving as the origin for the English word "Umpqua."
Current representation for the Upper Umpqua people is found within the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
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The Cow Creek Band of Upper Umpqua
The Cow Creek people originated as a band of the Takelma people, settling along the South Umpqua River, Myrtle Creek, and Cow Creek. Historically known as the Cow Creek Takelma or the Cow Creek Band, they maintain a significant presence in Oregon's indigenous history.
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Native Americans is one of nine federally recognized Tribal Governments in Oregon. They hold the distinction of being the first tribes in the Oregon Territory to sign a treaty with the United States government on September 19, 1853. This treaty resulted in the tribe ceding over 800 square miles of Southwestern Oregon, rendering them a landless tribe. Despite the U.S. government failing to provide the promised reservation, the people remained in their ancestral homelands.
Today, they are represented by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Native Americans, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
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The Southern Molalla
The Molalla people originally lived along the Deschutes River before migrating to the headwaters of the Rogue River and the Umpqua River. Their legacy continues through membership in the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. In the 1950s, 141 of the 882 members of the Grand Ronde community claimed Molalla descent.
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Key Facts
- Kuitsh: The self-designation of the Lower Umpqua, meaning "The Southern People."
- Oregon Athabaskan Cluster: The linguistic group to which the now-extinct Upper Umpqua language belonged.
- 1853 Treaty: The Cow Creek Band was the first in the Oregon Territory to sign a treaty with the U.S. government.
- Land Loss: The Cow Creek Tribe ceded more than 800 square miles of land under their 1853 treaty.
- Molalla Migration: Originally from the Deschutes River, the Molalla moved to the Umpqua and Rogue River headwaters.
| Group | Self-Designation / Origin | Primary Region | Language Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Umpqua | Kuitsh / Quuiič | Siltcoos River to Tenmile Creek | Siuslaw |
| Upper Umpqua | Etnemitane / Dv-nee-yu | South Umpqua River / Scottsburg | Oregon Athabaskan |
| Cow Creek Band | Cow Creek Takelma | South Umpqua, Myrtle, and Cow Creeks | Takelma |
| Southern Molalla | Molalla | Deschutes, Umpqua, and Rogue Rivers | Molalla |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name "Umpqua" originate from?
The English word "Umpqua" is derived from the Chetco-Tolowa term Ûm-́kwa-me, which was used by neighboring Athapascan-speaking peoples to describe the "Umpqua River People."
Which group was the first to sign a treaty with the U.S. government in the Oregon Territory?
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Native Americans signed the first treaty in the Oregon Territory on September 19, 1853.
What happened to the land of the Cow Creek Tribe after the 1853 treaty?
The Cow Creek Tribe ceded more than 800 square miles of Southwestern Oregon to the United States. Although the treaty promised a reservation, one was never provided, leaving them a landless tribe, though they continued to live in their homelands.
What was the linguistic background of the Upper Umpqua?
The Upper Umpqua spoke a language that was part of the "Oregon Athabaskan cluster," a group of four closely related Pacific Coast Athabaskan languages. This language is now extinct.
Where did the Southern Molalla originally live?
The Molalla originally lived along the Deschutes River before moving to the headwaters of the Umpqua and Rogue Rivers.