301 - Oklahoma State University - Library

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12 Ind. Cl. Comm. 301
country occupied by the Wenatchi as including the C3lumbi.a Biver valiey
immediately above the Coluxbia Salish, north to about half way between the
mouths of the Methow and Okanagon rivers, and embracing all the country
on the west side of the Columbia to the Cascades and a little beyond in
some places, from the boundaries of the Thompson Tribe in the north to
the Yakima in the south and probably in early times to the Colunbia Band
occupying the country east of the Dalles adjolcing the Upper Chinook.
Both Dr. Ray and Mr. Chalfant testified that maoy of Teit's con-
. .
clusions have been refuted, especially his migration theory which placed
Columbia Indians on the lower Columbia River.
With respect to the eastern boundary Teit also wrote:
The exact ancient boiicdaries betweea the Spokane and
Columbia are rather vague. The Coeur d'blene do not seem
to know of any time when Columbia boirndaries touched theirs.
Sone of them say that at one time parties of Columbia came
close to their borders on the soathwest, and occasionally
parties of the tvo tribes met; that at this time parties of
Spokane seldom came south of Cheney or Sprague, but in later
days, periiaps after the advent of the horse, they went as
far as Xitzvflle, and sometimes Colfax. Spokane are also
said to have camped on Cow Cresk, and their parties often
went right to the mouth. Colfax was considered to be in
Palous countzy, at least, in later days, but was to some
extent within both Coeur drAlene and Nez Perce spheres of
influence. It seems not improbable that at one time the
narrow strip of Palous country above the mouth of the
Palouse was neutral ground, the con~iguous tribes of
Columbia, Spokane, Coeur dlAlene, and Nez Perce each
making use to some extent of the part lying nearest to
them. This neutral strip, and previous decimation of
the Columbia population by disease, would make the ex- '
pansion of the Yaicima or Palous in this direction very
easy. (Pet. Ex. 441, pp. 103, 104)
In discussing population of the Columbia group Teit wrote that it
- appeared that all or part of those Indians were included in the Yakima
.
.