Klamath Tribe History


The Klamath Indian Nation were inhabitants of Oregon, dwelling to the south east of the present day Crater Lake National Park. The territory of the Klamath was bounded by the Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath Marsh and the Williamson River. At the time of first contact with Europeans the Klamath population numbered around 1200 persons. In 1864, a treaty was signed to establish permanent boundaries for the Klamath people and during this time they were given rights to hunt and fish. When the Termination Era came about and the Klamath Treaty was no longer acknowledged, much of the tribe was forced to assimilate into the prominent Western culture. Although they were again federally recognized in 1986, only a fraction of their land was returned. They continue to maintain the values and customs of the Klamath Tribe while intergrating themselves into American society.