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THE KLAMATH TRIBES
Ashland
Klamath Tribes Klamath Falls
The largest freshwater lake in Oregon, Upper Klamath Lake is the heart of the Klamath Basin — and the soul of the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin-Paiute people who have lived here since ancient times. Together they make up the Klamath Tribes, whose ancestral lands encompass a breathtakingly beautiful and diverse landscape of forest, grassland, mountains and waterways across (and beyond) what is today Southern Oregon.
For hundreds of generations, the tribes of the Klamath thrived in this rich land east of the Cascades. They fished its lakes and rivers, hunted in its forests and marshes, and survived the lean winter months on their prudent reserves from the abundant seasons.
The self-sufficiency of the Klamath Tribes endures today, even in the face of broken treaties, the loss of tribal lands, the brutal Modoc War and ongoing battles to maintain their water rights. The Klamath Tribes Aquatics staff is working to heal waterways and restore sustainable fisheries. The Klamath Tribes Cultural and Heritage Department teaches tribal language, hosts tribal ceremonies, runs a Culture Camp for tribal youth, and is designing a tribal museum and interpretive center. The tribal-owned KLA-MO-YA Casino, Sleep Inn & Suites and Crater Lake Junction Travel Center in Chiloquin create jobs and strengthen the local economy.
With a traditional greeting of Waq’li’si, the Klamath Tribes welcome you to their homeland. As you marvel at bird-filled skies and shimmering lakes, take a moment to appreciate how these and so many other special places are an integral part of the Klamath people. Respecting the land and the water also respects those who came before and hold these places sacred.
SAVING THE C’WAAM AND KOPTU
Upper Klamath Lake has forever been fundamental to the ceremonial practices and first foods of the Klamath Tribes. Utmost in importance are two of its fish species, the c’waam and koptu, that live in this lake and nowhere else in the world. Because they spawn in late winter, the arrival of the fish from the lake to the rivers had always provided an essential, protein-rich food source when the people needed it most. For that reason, the cultural, spiritual and economic health of the Klamath Tribes is inextricably linked to the health of the sacred c’waam and koptu.
Yet in the early 1900s, the federal Bureau of Reclamation embarked on a massive infrastructure project on Klamath Lake. In a blatant breach of tribal treaties, it dammed, diked and drained the lake for agriculture. In due time, irresponsible water management and agricultural runoff led to pollution, toxic algae blooms, low water levels and high water temperatures. The effect was devastating to c’waam and koptu populations. Once numbering in the tens of millions throughout the Upper Klamath River drainage, today fewer than 45,000 fish exist, in isolated spawning populations and near the end of their life spans.
The Klamath Tribes are taking several steps in an attempt to bring the fish back from the brink of extinction. Tribal fisheries biologists are restoring 40 acres of wetlands to provide habitat for young fish along the southeast shore of Klamath Lake, and are raising hundreds of c’waam in the Klamath Tribal Aquatics Center. The tribe continues to fight for the water rights guaranteed in the Treaty of 1864. And tribal members continue to gather on the banks of the Sprague River in March, drumming and praying for their sacred fish in the annual Return of the C’waam Ceremony.
The 2021 PBS documentary Killing the Klamath details the damage done and the efforts of the Klamath Tribes to restore a sustainable c’waam and koptu fishery and their full treaty rights. Visitors can contribute to their work with a donation through the Ambo Fund.
TRIBAL CELEBRATIONS
A highlight of the Klamath tribal calendar is the annual Restoration Celebration. Held the fourth weekend of August, it marks the anniversary of the Congressional act that reinstated federal recognition of the Klamath Tribes. The three-day event in Chiloquin includes a parade, a youth rodeo, food and craft vendors, and a large competition powwow with dancers from many tribal nations. The public is invited to attend this colorful and festive weekend.
In October tribal members participate in the Modoc Ancestral Run, a relay route through tribal
GIIWAS (CRATER LAKE)
Tribal ancestors witnessed a sudden, violent volcanic explosion, which collapsed the summit of Moyaina (Mt. Mazama) and left behind an immense crater that eventually filled with snowmelt and rainwater.
lands that varies from year to year and often measures more than 100 miles. Rich with tradition and symbolism, it honors the Modoc warriors who fought for their homeland, and celebrates tribal members’ connections to the lands from which their elders were forced during the Indian Wars. The run is not a participatory public event, although the public may see participants as they run along area roads and trails, carrying a
NEARBY VISITOR ATTRACTIONS
Averaging more than 300 days of sunshine per year, the climate of the Klamath region is ideal for outdoor activities in every season. As you enjoy the region, remember that these traditional lands and waterways are sacred to the Klamath people. Please do your part to keep them pristine. Walk softly, carry out what you carry in, and conserve water and other natural resources.
Birding is impressive year-round but especially in early spring, when more than 1 million birds descend on the Klamath Basin. As it’s a key resting spot during their migration along the Pacific Flyway, more than 350 species have been tallied in area lakes and marshes. Enhance your birding experience at the Winter Wings Festival in February, which hosts a variety of field trips and workshops.
Spring through fall offers nearly endless opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, golfing, mountain biking and horseback riding. Collier Memorial State Park is one of many spots to enjoy the area’s rivers. Spring Creek gushes forth from a nearby spring and flows through the park, where it converges with the Williamson River, known for its fine trout fishing. An equestrian trail in the park’s horse camp leads to plentiful riding in the adjacent Fremont-Winema National Forest.
Come winter, the Klamath Basin transforms into one of Southern Oregon’s top skiing and snowmobiling destinations. The Walter Haring Sno-Park near Chemult and the Great Meadows SnoPark west of Klamath Falls on OR-140 offer hundreds of miles of groomed trails for skis and snow machines.
THE GATEWAY TO SPECTACULAR CRATER LAKE
You can’t help but feel the power of Giiwas (Crater Lake), a place of deep spiritual significance to the Klamath Tribes. Oral histories recount how tribal ancestors witnessed a sudden, violent volcanic explosion, which collapsed the summit of Moyaina (Mt. Mazama) and left behind an immense crater that eventually filled with snowmelt and rainwater. Remarkable for its clarity and its astounding, brilliant hue, crystalline Crater Lake descends to a depth of 1,949 feet, the deepest lake in the United States and one of the deepest in the world. Gazing down from the rim at Crater Lake National Park, visitors today are encouraged to share in the millennia-old tradition of respect and gratitude. The southern park entrance is 40 miles north of Chiloquin.
From top: Klamath Restoration Celebration; tribal members gathering first foods on the Klamath Marsh
TRIBAL HISTORY IN VIDEO AND AUDIO
Enhance your visit by learning more about the Klamath Tribes’ history in a series of videos produced by the tribe: “Truth, Reckoning & Healing,” “We’re Still Here” and “Heal the Land, Heal the People.” It’s free to download “The Modoc War: A Homeland Lost,” an audio tour that guides you to historic sites through riveting narration by Cheewa James, the great-granddaughter of Modoc warrior Chkeitko.