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THE FIRST STAGE OF THE FEDERAL INDIAN

POLICY IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,

1849-1852.*

By C. F. COAN, University of New Mexico

A SUMMARY OF INDIAN RELATIONS PRIOR TO 1849

The intermingling of the Indians and the whites in the Paci- fic Northwest during the three-quarters of a century from 1774 to 1849 resulted in the races gradually becoming acquainted and the creation by the latter date of a serious Indian problem which had to be met by armed force. From 1774 to 1811 the contact was comparatively slight, but this was greatly increased during the years from 1811 to 1842. By 1849 there were few Indians in the region who were not familiar with white men.

The explorers, both along the coast and in the interior, had no conflicts with the natives of a serious nature. The coast traders were not so fortunate. The Nootka Sound Indians successfully expelled the traders from Vancouver Island. Prior to 1811, the Indians along the Pacific Coast had become ac- quainted with the whites and had had a number of conflicts with them. However, no continued association had resulted because no permanent trading post or settlement had been es- tablished. In the interior along the Columbia river, the In- dians had met a few explorers but the contact was very much less than that along the coast.

The increased intercourse which followed the date 1811 was due to the organized effort of well established companies to exploit the most obvious natural resources of the region.

The elimination in 1813 of the American company and in 1821 of the "Northwesters" gave the control into the hands of the highly favored and highly organized Hudson's Bay Com- pany. Prior to the coming of the company, the character of

"The investigation of this subject was begun in the Seminar of Dr. Herbert E. Bolton, University of California. Through his aid and that of Dr. J. Franklin Jameson the documents were obtained upon which this paper is based.