Clackamas people
The Clackamas Indians are a tribe of Native Americans of the U.S. state of Oregon who traditionally lived along the Clackamas River in the Willamette Valley. Lewis and Clark estimated their population at 1800 in 1806. At the time the tribe lived in 11 villages and subsisted on fish and roots.[1]
Like others of the Chinookan peoples, they practiced head flattening. From infancy the head was compressed between boards, thus sloping the forehead backward.
The Willamette Meteorite is revered by the Clackamas Indians.[2]
Descendants
By 1855, the 88 surviving members of the tribe were relocated to Grand Ronde, Oregon, first to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation; later they blended in the general population.
Descendants of the Clackamas belong to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
References
- Snyder, Eugene E.. Portland Names and Neighborhoods: Their Historic Origin. Portland: Binford & Mort, 1979. p.110.
- "Willamette Meteorite Agreement"."Willamette Meteorite Agreement".