AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Carolyn Patricia McAleer for the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Anthropology presented on November 14, 2003. Title: Patterns from the Past: Exploring Gender and Ethnicity through Historical Archaeology among Fur Trade Families in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Abstract Approved: Redacted for privacy David R. Brauner This thesis examines archaeological material in order to explore gender and ethnicity issues concerning fur tradeera families from a settlement in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Ethnohistorical information consisting of traders journals and travelers observations, as well as documentation from the Hudson's Bay Company, Catholic church records, and genealogical information helped support and guide this research. By using historical information as wellas archaeological material, this research attempted to interpret possible ethnic markers and gender relationships between husbands and wives among five fur tradeera families. Families of mixed ethnicity, including French Canadian, Native, Metis and American, settled the valley after 1828 bringing with them objects and activities characteristic of their way of life. Retired fur tradetrappers, of French Canadian and American decent, married either Metisor Native women. Of 53 identified families, four French Canadian/Native families have been chosen for this project,as well as one American settler, and his Native wife. Little is known about how these women interacted within their families or whether they maintained certain characteristics of their Native culture. It was hoped that these unique cultural dynamics might become evident through an analysis of the ceramic assemblages from these sites. Due to the extensive nature of the archaeological collections, and time constraints related to this thesis, only ceramics have been examined. Information concerning the cultural characteristics of these Native cultures was included along with family biographical information and a history of the fur trade culture. This background information was then exaniined in reference to the ceramic analysis. All data associated with ceramic characteristics was placed into an Excel file. The information was processed using frequency charts, and examined for the presence and/or absence of certain ceramics, specifically looking at variations in color and pattern. These data were then compared to information compiled by Judith Sanders Chapman (1993) in regards to the Harriet D. Munnick Archaeological Collection, another French Prairie ceramic collection. This analysis identified few differences in pattern and color specifically among transfer-printed ceramics, however, other types of ceramics were analyzed. No ethnic markers were identifiable when the historical material was examined against the ceramic analysis, suggesting that perhaps these Native and Metis women did not make consumer choices based on ethnicity, or that their ethnicity or cultural affiliations were incorrectly established. There was also insufficient evidence supporting the hypothesis that these women actually made consumer purchases at all or even traded for ceramics. However, this study does contribute to the sparse body of knowledge that we have on French Prairie and the family and cultural dynamics that guided thisgroup of settlers. It also suggests thatany future study concerning ethnicity or tribal affiliation, may be difficult due to the multi-cultural atmosphere of theperiod. ©Copyright by Carolyn Patricia McAleer November 14, 2003 All Rights Reserved Patterns from the Past: Exploring Gender and Ethnicity through HistoricalArchaeology among Fur Trade Families in the Willamette Valley of Oregon by Carolyn Patricia McAleer A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partiaL fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Presented November 14, 2003 Commencement June 2004 Master of Arts thesis of Carolyn Patricia McAleer presentedon November 14, 2003. APPROVED: Redacted for privacy Major Professor, representing Applied Anthropology Redacted for privacy Chair of Department of Anthropology Redacted for privacy Deanthe Q1uafe School I understand that my thesis will becomepart of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature belowauthorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Redacted for privacy Carolyn Patricia ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the help of many individuals. I would like to thank the cultural resource team at Fort Vancouver National Historic Park for their help with their ceramic collections. Also Josephine Dryer from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, for her help with genealogical information. Thanks to Dr. David Brauner for his support and guidance throughout this project, as well as Jun Kinoshita for his technical genius, and Delight Stone for her inspirational nature. And a great many thanks goes to family and friends for keeping me focused. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction.,.. ............................................ 1 Natural arid Cultural Background 10 Lower Columbia/Willamette Valley 10 Columbia Plateau 15 Coasts of Southern British Columbia... 18 Ethnographic Context........................ 20 The Kalapuya 21 The Chinook 24 The Kwakiutl 29 The Okanagon 31 The Nez Perce 33 Historical Background......................................... 38 Fur Trade Employees 43 Native Women and the Fur Traders 47 The Metis................................................. 53 French Prairie and Families 59 Pierre Bellique and Genevieve St. Martin 68 Etienne Lucier and Josephette Nouette 70 Joseph Despard and Lisette Chinook 75 Andre Longtain and Nancy Okanagon 77 Robert Newell and Kitty 79 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Eg Theory and Method........................................... 83 Ceramics: Availability and Analysis................... 98 Availability............................................. 98 Ceramic Descriptions&Analysis 103 Transfer Printed 105 Hand Decorated 112 Utilitarian...... 119 Chinese Porcelain..................... 121 Discussion and Conclusions.............................. 126 Bibliography...................................................... 136 Appendices........................................................ 158 Appendix A Ceramic Patterns 159 Appendix B Genealogy of French Prairie.. 166 - LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Location of the Willarnette Valley in Oregon............... .................... 2. Native groups of the Lower Columbia River.............................................16 3. Several of the Columbia Plateau Native Groups........................................17 4. Native groups of Southern British Columbia and Vancouver Island.............................................................. 20 5. Kalapuya Band Distribution.......................................................... 23 6. Location of Fur Posts.................................................................................. 40 7. The Trapper's Bride by Alfred Miller, 1850...............................................50 8. Shows the area of French Prairie................................................................ 62 9. Section of the 1852-53 Donation Land Claimmap ...................... .... ........ 10. Field map of the Newell Homestead Site (ORMA-41).........................97 11. Percentages based on the Minimum Vessel Count..................................104 LIST OF APPENDIX FIGURES Figure Eg 1 A.. Antique ..., ........................................................ 159 2A.. British Flowers.............................................................................. 160 3A. Broseley......................................................................................... 161 4A.. Lily................................................................................................ 162 5A.. Watteau .........................................................................................163 6A.. Floral Painted or Cottage Ware..................................................... 164 7A.. Mocha Tree..................................................................................... 165 Patterns from the Past: ExploringGender and Ethnicity through Historical Archaeology among Fur Trade Familiesin the Willamette Valley of Oregon Introduction The late 1820's found retired French Canadiantrappers settling the northern portion of today's Willamette Valley,known as French Prairie. As earlyas 1829, Etienne Lucier, a retired furtrapper, and his Native wife Josephete Nouite had estabiished themselves in thisarea. Slowly other retired trappers and their families made their way here, and by the early 1840'sclose to 100 French Canadian families occupied French Prairie, establishingone of the first settlements in the Willamette Valley. These early settlers and theirfamilies had been virtually forgotten in Oregon history until the French CanadianArchaeological Project, started in 1982. This project which focused on historical researchand archaeological information strived to change this, locating fifty two, of the ninetytwo documented sites along the prairie (Brauner 1989). Questions remained, however,regarding the origins and histories of these families. This research attemptsto contribute to this body of knowledge by examining cultural heritage and the roles andrelationships of family life on French Prairie. French Canadian, Metis and Americantrappers and Voyagers throughout the fur trade era formed relationshipswith women of various Nativegroups. These alliances were a necessity