The Wahkiakums exemplify the complexities encountered when trying to classify Chinookan-speaking Peoples. Linguistically, they spoke the Upper Chinookan Clackamas dialect. Culturally, they were related to the Lower Chinookan Clatsops and Chinooks proper. They resided primarily along the north side of the Columbia between Grays Bay and Cathlamet, Washington.[1]James P. Ronda, Lewis and Clark among the Indians, Bison Book ed. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988), 184, 186.
Columbia River, Jim Crow Point
© 2021 by Robert Heacock. Used by permission.
This remote stretch of the lower Columbia River shows why much of the Wahkiakum villages were accessed by boat.
Confusions
Historians often consider Lewis and Clark encounters with the Kathlamets as encounters with the Wahkiakum. In the broad scope of tribal history, the difference may indeed be trivial. However, when it comes to the best canoe navigators—see 11 Nov 1805—or “the dirtiest and Stinkingest” village—see 24 March 1806—whether Clark was observing Wahkiakums or Cathlamets may be a point of contention. The captains gave both of these descriptions to people on the south side of the river, which they called Cathlamets, not Wahkiakums.
This website retains the distinction of the two peoples as seen and recorded in the eyes of the captains. The selected Wahkiakum encounters presented below is much shorter than that of the Kathlamets: a brief encounter near Pillar Rock, a trading delegation visiting the yet to be completed Fort Clatsop, and two men wanting to trade dogs for some tobacco on the return journey in spring 1806.
Downstreamers
When considering the full history of the Wahkiakums, not just the microcosm of culture seen by Lewis and Clark, recent historians combine village groupings known to the captains as Cathlamet, Wahkiakums, and perhaps Skilloots into a single linguistic and ethnic division. Silverstein, in the authoritative 1990 Handbook of North American Indians calls the division ‘Cathlamets’. Zenk, Hajda, and Boyd, 2016, call the grouping tgígʷalatkš (Itkigwalatksh) or ‘downstreamers’.[2]Michael Silverstein, Handbook of North American Indians: Northwest Coast Vol. 7, ed. Wayne Suttles (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1990), 534; Henry B. Zenk, Yvonne P. Hajda, and Robert … Continue reading Politically, most of the Wahkiakums and Kathlamets have united with the Clatsops, Chinooks, and Willapas to form the Chinook Indian Tribe/Chinook Nation. Within that group, most members still identify with their specific village heritage.
In their Estimate of the Western Indians, the captains record that “Wack-ki-a-cums reside on the N. Side of the Columbia opposite the Marshey Islands” in eleven houses with a population of 200. In their Lewis and Clark’s Points from Fort Mandan to the Pacific Coast they list two villages and Clark’s maps place them near the present-day towns of Skamakowa (gaɬiášgǝnǝmax̣ix Gatliyashganamakhikh) and Cathlamet (gaɬiaʔišáɬx̣ix Gatliya-ishalkhikh).[3]Moulton, Journals “Fort Mandan Miscellany”; Zenk, et al., 8–9. Their namesake village—wáqaiqam—was on Grays Bay. Two more well-known villages were between Skamakowa and Wahkiakum in the Altoona–Pillar Rock area. Until 1947, that area was accessible only by boat and its remoteness enabled several Wahkiakum families to reside on the Columbia until long after all other Chinookan peoples had been removed from the river. Today, gentrification is forcing many Wahkiakums to leave the area.[4]Tony A. Johnson, Chinookan Peoples of the Lower Columbia, ed. Robert T. Boyd, et al. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2013), 5–8.
Selected Encounters
November 7, 1805
Ocean in view?
The expedition paddles around Columbia River islands and stops at two Wahkiakum villages. They reach a landmark presently named Pillar Rock where Clark mistakenly exclaims ‘Ocean in view! O! the joy’.
December 29, 1805
Wahkiakum traders
Clark gives visiting Wahkiakum traders a small peace medal and ties a red ribbon to a cone hat; Clatsop chief Coboway is given a razor. Clark also lists the day’s work details and sick men.
December 30, 1805
Fair morning
At Fort Clatsop, the journalists appear happy to see the sun, and Clark enjoys a sumptuous dinner of fresh elk tongue and marrow bones. Clark lists the area fauna: slugs, insects, snakes, and waterfowl.
December 31, 1805
Latrine and sentry box
At Fort Clatsop, an Indian’s musket is repaired, and a red-headed Clatsop is among the many visitors today. Clark notes that their behavior has improved, and a new latrine and sentry box are added.
January 13, 1806
Out of candles
At Fort Clatsop near present Astoria, Oregon, elk tallow is rendered to make new candles, and Lewis finds that elk do not have enough fat. He also describes the ship trade among the area’s Nations.
March 24, 1806
Stolen canoe claimed
On their way to present Aldrich Point, they cross shallow waters crowded with islands, and a Kathlamet man guides them to the correct channel. The guide claims he is the owner of one of their canoes.
March 25, 1806
Downstreamer Chinooks
As they paddle along the south shore of the Columbia, the expedition sees Downstreamer Chinooks trolling for sturgeon. After fifteen miles, they find a popular camping spot at the present Clatskanie River.
March 26, 1806
At Fanny's Bottom
After a wet night, they paddle approximately 18 miles up the Columbia River and camp on an island near an area they call “fannys bottom”. Lewis describes eagles and substitutes for tobacco.
March 27, 1806
Generous Skilloots
Near present Deer Island, Oregon, some generous Skilloots give away food with hopes that the expedition hunters will hunt with them. Lewis describes the area’s trees and prepares a salmonberry specimen.
Notes
| ↑1 | James P. Ronda, Lewis and Clark among the Indians, Bison Book ed. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988), 184, 186. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Michael Silverstein, Handbook of North American Indians: Northwest Coast Vol. 7, ed. Wayne Suttles (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1990), 534; Henry B. Zenk, Yvonne P. Hajda, and Robert T. Boyd, “Chinookan Villages of the Lower Columbia,” Oregon Historical Quarterly, 2016, Vol. 117, No. 1, 8–11. |
| ↑3 | Moulton, Journals “Fort Mandan Miscellany”; Zenk, et al., 8–9. |
| ↑4 | Tony A. Johnson, Chinookan Peoples of the Lower Columbia, ed. Robert T. Boyd, et al. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2013), 5–8. |
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Discover More
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.
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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).