301 - Oklahoma State University - Library

12 ind. C1. Com~. 301
7. Klikitat
8. Wanapam
9. Palus
10. Skeen
C. Chinookan speaking tribe:
Lewis and Clark
11. Wishram
22, The history of the Indian tribes in Royce Area 364 began with
the explorers Lewis and Clark. In October, 1805, they started down the
upper Clearwater River in canoes and then traveled through the southern
portion of the subject area down the Snake River to its junttion with the
Columbia River. Along the Snake River they noted numerous Indian villages
and commented on a number of fishing sites along the river, including a
fishing site on the Snake River at the mouth of Drewyers (Palouse) River.
One sketch revealed the name Pal-lace at this site which might signify the
ancestral Palus group. On the map of the expedition prepared in 1807 by
William Clark, the "PaloosY1 Indians are indicated in the area north of the
Snake (Lewis) River to the west of the Palouse (Drewyers) River. There
were notations in the Journals indicating that most of the Indians were
out on hunting expeditions at that time (the autumn season). Onc. some of
their maps Lewis and Clark used symbols to distinguish the wooden houses
from the tipi or mat covered houses. Dr. Verne F. Ray, ~etitioner's
expert anthropologist, considered that this infomation separated Palus
IndFans, who used wooden houses, from the neighboring tribes which used
tipi or mat houses. However, the Commission has also noted that Dr. Ray
testified that Lewis and Clark repcrted a "few wooden houses among the