Chinook have earned recognition

Using terse, crisp and sometimes crude descriptions, William Clark’s journal entries conveyed the high drama of the Corps’ perilous voyage on the Lower Columbia River in 1805.

Pinned for six days against the north shore of the river just east of the current Astoria-Megler bridge, the explorers faced continuous rain, and floating logs that threatened to smash their beached canoes to pieces at high tide.

Their clothing was rotten, their bedding soaked and food supplies scarce.

Entry notes, Nov. 11, 1805: “A hard rain all the last night. We again get wet. The rain continues all day … wind verry high and waves trimendeous … Five Indians came down in a canoe loaded with fish … called Red Charr … we purchased 13 of these fish, for which we gave fishing hooks & some trifling things …”

Yes, the Indians — Chinooks — met the Corps of Discovery at a place of such misery Clark called it “dismal nitich (nitch).”

Anyone who has traveled the 152-mile stretch of the Columbia in a small boat or canoe from Bonneville Dam to Fort Clatsop knows of the dangers at any time of the year. Explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their Corps were especially vulnerable.

Who knows what the outcome of this journey might have been had Chinook tribal members not aided the Corps? The Chinooks traded with them, helped them at Dismal Nitch and through the hard winter of 1805-06 at Fort Clatsop on the Oregon shore.

It’s time to return the favor as the Chinook Nation seeks federal recognition as a tribe. The current quest has been going on for two and a half years, according to tribal chairman Ray Gardner of Raymond.

This may be the year, with U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, giving it a massive push in his last year in Congress before retirement. “I would feel tremendous pride in seeing passage of this bill as part of the legacy of the Third Congressional District,” Baird said. “This is an injustice we have a chance to right. It’s important to me to correct the injustice before I leave.”

Federal recognition was granted in the 19th century, but never ratified. Recognition was approved Jan. 3, 2001, by the Clinton administration, but the Bush administration removed it July 5, 2002, after territorial and tribal objections by the Quinault Indians on the Olympic Peninsula. Historians and Lewis and Clark journal entries have repeatedly debunked the issues. One entry records a visit of the expedition to the Chinook village of Cathlapotle at Ridgefield (now represented by the replica plankhouse), where Lewis and Clark traded with the Indians and “were treated verry kindly by them.”

The legislative vehicle of passage is the “Chinook Nation Restoration Act.” Baird introduced the bill July 31, 2008, and hearings were held. It was passed through to the House floor. Action is expected to be resumed this spring, Baird said. An amendment specifies the Chinook would not be granted special hunting and fishing rights. Those activities will be allowed, by state Fish and Wildlife permit, only for ceremonial purposes.

“The No. 1 concern is that recognition provide health care for our people,” said tribal chairman Gardner. He is looking for housing for the elderly, social services, a cultural center and business opportunities such as the seafood industry, and maybe a beach resort, but no gambling.

The tribe numbers 2,500 to 2,700 members, concentrated in Pacific and Wahkiakum counties. Chinook members also live in Clark and Cowliz counties, including Sam Robinson of Vancouver, vice chairman of the tribal council. The tribe’s service area would add Clatsop and Columbia counties in Oregon. Robinson said many people are surprised recognition hasn’t already been granted. He believes the support for restoration of the Chinook tribe goes well beyond the number of tribal members.

Baird hopes Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell will join him and others in correcting a historical wrong and longtime neglect of the Chinook Indians. Waiting nearly two centuries for recognition is wrong. Congress should resolve the nation’s long-stranding debt of gratitude and authorize the Chinook Nation now.

Tom Koenninger is editor emeritus of The Columbian. His column of personal opinion appears on Wednesdays. Reach him at koenninger@comcast.net.