1899: Chinook Nation recognition
Yes, there is Chinuk Wawa in this eyewitness report about the Chinook Indian Nation’s struggle for federal recognition.
Image credit: Find A Grave
The “Chehalis” people who are also mentioned would appear to be the Lower Chehalis, whose territory is named in the following article. Their Salish language made enormous contributions to the early formation of Chinook Jargon.
INDIANS AND THEIR TROUBLES.
Chinook and Chehalis Braves Have
a Grievance.Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
SOUTH BEND, May 19 . — Harrison Allen,
city attorney of Astoria, and Silas B.
Smith, better known as “Clatsop” Smith,
are here in the interest of the Chinook and
Chehalis tribes of Indians, who think they
have a good claim against the United
States. About 150 Indians have arrived
from Chinook, Georgetown, Bay Center and
points on Grays harbor, and they appear
today before the court to assign power
of attorney to Allen and Smith to pre-
pare their claim and present the same
to congress.The Indians have never been regularly
paid for the land. In 1856 the government
gave them a cultus potlatch at Chinook
and another shortly after on Grays har-
bor. In 1850 [1855] Gov. I. I. Stevens made an
effort to make permanent treaty with
the Indians, but as they, through tribal
jealousy, would not delegate power to
treat to any of their chiefs, the whole
matter was dropped and so stands today.
— from the Seattle (WA) Post-Intelligencer of May 11, 1899, page 3, column 2
