KLAMATH TRIBES

The 'Klamath Tribes', formerly the 'Klamath Indian Tribe of Oregon', are a federally recognized confederation of three Native American tribes who traditionally inhabited Southern Oregon and Northern California in the United States: the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin. The tribal government is based in Chiloquin, Oregon.

Contents

History

Klamath Indian Reservation

Water rights dispute

Demographics

Economy

See also

References

External links

History

After signing the 1864 treaty, members of the Klamath Tribes lived on the Klamath Reservation until the United States Congress terminated its recognition of tribal sovereignty in 1954. In 1986, federal recognition was restored, but some of the tribe's original land had been sold. A portion of that land is now part of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex. A new reservation is in the planning stages.^[1]

Klamath Indian Reservation

The present day Klamath Indian Reservation consists of twelve small non-contiguous parcels of land in Klamath County. These fragments are generally located in and near the communities of Chiloquin and Klamath Falls. Their total land area is 1.248 km² (308.43 acres). As is the case with many Native American tribes, few of the Klamath tribal members actually live on reservation land; the 2000 census reported only nine persons residing on its territory, five of whom were white people.^[2]

Water rights dispute

In 2001, an ongoing water rights dispute between the Klamath Tribes and Klamath Basin farmers and fishermen along the Klamath River became national news. As of 2006, the water rights issue is still controversial.

Demographics

The Klamath Tribes have 3700 enrolled members (as of 2006), and are centered in Klamath County, Oregon. Some of the lands that the tribe liquidated when they lost federal recognition in 1954 were restored when recognition returned, so the tribal administration offers services throughout the county.

Economy

The Kla-Mo-Ya Casino was opened in Chiloquin, Oregon in 1997 and now provides an income stream to the tribes to support their activities.

See also

★ List of Native American Tribal Entities in Oregon

References

1. Indian Tribes in Oregon from the Oregon Blue Book website
2. Klamath Reservation, Oregon

External links

★ Klamath Tribes

★ Guide to the Klamath Tribal Council papers (1933-1958) at the University of Oregon