The Klamath and Modoc were two neighboring Native American peoples that traditionally lived in what are now southern Oregon and northern California. The Klamath and Modoc were separate tribes, but their languages and cultures were similar.

Society and culture

The homeland of the Klamath and Modoc was rich in resources. Dotted with marshes, lakes, rivers, and streams, their territory included thick forests and part of the Cascade mountain range. Mount Shasta in northern California was a sacred site to the Modoc.

Both tribes obtained much of their food by fishing, especially during the annual salmon run. Some fish were eaten fresh, and others were dried for use in the winter. The tribes also hunted small animals and gathered roots, berries, and seeds.

The Klamath and Modoc lived in villages, each of which had its own leaders. The villages banded together to make war. The Klamath were especially warlike. They often raided other tribes and made slaves of the enemies they captured.

During the snowy winter, Klamath and Modoc families kept warm in earth-covered dwellings. While on hunting and fishing expeditions in the warmer months, they camped in temporary shelters made of poles and mats.

History

Because their territory was remote, the Klamath and Modoc had few if any dealings with non–Native Americans until the early 19th century. By the 1850s large numbers of settlers were invading the Klamath and Modoc homelands. After years of fighting, the tribes signed a treaty in 1864 that took away most of their territory. Along with some other Indian groups, they moved onto a reservation in southern Oregon.

The new reservation occupied Klamath land, and the Modoc were not entirely comfortable on it. A food shortage made conditions even worse for the Modoc. In 1870 a group of Modoc fled the reservation and returned to their home territory in California. Their leader was Kintpuash, whom the Americans called Captain Jack because he often wore a military coat. Federal troops tried to force the Modoc back onto the Oregon reservation, but the Indians resisted. The result was the Modoc War of 1872–73. At the end of the conflict Kintpuash was captured and executed. Many of his followers were sent to live in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).

In 1909 the government finally allowed the Oklahoma Modoc to return to the Klamath Reservation. Some did, but others chose to remain in Oklahoma. Those who stayed later became known as the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma.

In Oregon, the Klamath, Modoc, and the Yahooskin Band of the Snake Indians together become known as the Klamath Tribes. The tribes became wealthy from logging and raising cattle on their reservation. Then in 1954 the U.S. Congress passed the Klamath Termination Act, a law that ended the federal government's obligations to the tribes. The act called for the Klamath Reservation to be broken up. Their land was taken from the tribes, and individual tribespeople received payments in return. Eventually all members of the Klamath Tribes agreed to the termination policy. Without their land, however, they fell on hard economic times.

In the 1970s the Klamath Tribes went to court to reclaim their traditional fishing and hunting rights. They also fought to regain their official tribal status. In 1986 the tribes were again formally recognized by the U.S. Congress. The Klamath Tribes have since worked to recover their traditional lands. To help finance this effort, they opened a casino in Chiloquin, Oregon, in 1997.