Historic and Contemporary Tribal Uses and Issues in the Lower Columbia Region
Project ID: P17AC01691
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: Portland State University
Fiscal Year: 2017
Initial Funding: $23,795
Total Funding: $70,972
Project Type: Research
Project Disciplines: Interdisciplinary
National Park: Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Principal Investigator: Deur, Doug
Agreement Technical Representative: Clatterbuck, Chris
Abstract: A. Background
Between 2002 and 2010, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (LEWI) expanded from 125 acres to 3,410 acres. The park does not have any baseline documentation on traditional Native American uses of natural resources, landscapes, or sites within this additional acreage. Without this baseline documentation, a proper evaluation and response to various requests from tribes concerning access to and use of ethnographic resources is difficult. LEWI currently lacks in-depth information that is available through a Traditional Use Study.
A Traditional Use Study produces information that will allow for the better management and protection of cultural resources that are of national as well as state and local importance. Traditional settlement, land use and resource management practices by tribes in Columbia Pacific area are poorly documented, and not described adequately in available published sources to facilitate park management and interpretation of lands with a significant historical tribal presence. Issues of historical ties between particular tribal populations and particular park lands and resources also cannot be clarified without an investigation of unpublished sources, including previously recorded tribal oral history and archival material. Recent changes in plant gathering regulations within the NPS allow tribes to request plant gathering access to park lands – requests that are difficult to assess without more detailed ethnographic information on plant use. This lack of in-depth information also results in public interpretation on Native American practices that is heavily reliant on a single source: the information contained in the Lewis and Clark journals. This project will scope a Traditional Use Study to remedy these significant gaps by organizing published and archival sources, and carrying out interviews with knowledgeable tribal members, regarding culturally significant places and natural resources within the NPS and state park lands that together constitute LEWI.
Expanding on the findings of this Traditional Use Study, there are additional steps that would enhance the understanding of the historic uses and contemporary issues of local tribes. These include expanded research into the north shore of the Columbia River, further investigation into tribal perspectives on how to better protect and interpret sites of historical tribal settlement and resource use such as the Ne-Cus site in Cannon Beach, the Par-Tee site in Seaside, and potential sites along the Lewis and Clark River and Youngs River – places that are adjacent to LEWI park units. Subject to the availability of funding and satisfactory progress of work during this first project phase, these projects may be included in future modifications to this agreement.
B. Objectives
Investigators from PSU and NPS staff will collaborate to accomplish the following specific objectives.
This project will be conducted in multiple phases (see Attachment A for a description of anticipated phases). This agreement initially funds Phase 1 work.
Phase 1 objectives are to:
1. Understand the current extent of available resources on the traditional land and resource uses of Clatsop and Nehalem-Tillamook, including published and readily-available archival sources pertaining to Chinook practices.
2. Initiate tribal outreach relating to the study.
3. Identify plant species and plant habitat management techniques that are most appropriate for natural resource restoration of park lands in light of documented Native American practices.
4. Produce a report on the ethnobotany of LEWI-associated tribes, focusing primarily upon the Clatsop and Nehalem-Tillamook, but also incorporating readily available Chinook information as well.
C. Public Purpose
This project will advance the public understanding of the traditional and contemporary tribal uses of natural resources and sites within Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. The public will benefit from an initiation of improved restoration efforts that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) relating to LEWI vegetation. Places of cultural and historical significance to tribes may be identified through this research that will receive special management in the future – for the benefit of not only tribal members but all park visitors. The project information will be used to improve interpretation of resource use, giving park visitors a better understanding of the use of the landscape both during the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and today. Project products that will be publicly available include a bibliography and a report on the ethnobotany of Clatsop and Nehalem-Tillamook.