Featured Tribe - Modoc

The Modoc people are of Native American descent, and are located in today's United States of America. The tribe found refuge on the west coast in the Lost River Valley on the present day California and Oregon border before the 1860’s. The United States Army relocated the Modoc people in 1864 to the Klamath Indian reservation, located in southeastern Oregon. Part of the tribe left the reservation in 1872 by the lead of Captain Jack, otherwise known as Kintpuash. They fled to the Lava beds near Tule Lake. The Modoc people, consisting of about 200 people today, can be found in Oklahoma; the US Army located them there following the Modoc War.

The Modoc primarily survived on gathering; they gathered seeds, roots, and berries. They also fished and hunted small game of varying types. The Modoc made rafts to fish with by weaving tule reeds. They also used this marsh plant to make baskets, moccasins, and thatched it together to make summer huts. The Modoc people lived in subterranean houses, in the winter, mostly covered by dirt and snow; the snow drifts would often reach six feet high or more. Their summer homes consisted of these thatched huts of tule reeds. They also built "Sweat Houses" used for praying and other religious affairs. The Modoc Religion, based on the belief of guardian spirits, was sought for guidance and help. The Klamath tribe to the north of the Modoc were good friends of the Modoc people. They didn’t spend much time together, but they would ally in time of war. There was also a tradition of young Modoc and Klamath coming together in marriage; the two tribes often intermixed this way.

The main thing that the Modoc people are remembered for is the Modoc war of 1872-73. The white Americans and the Native Americans have fought all through the settlement of the Midwest and west coast. This is just one of many stories about unkept promises by the United States Government. In 1864, the US Government forced the Modoc north to a reservation on the Northern Klamath Lake Region. This area was known to be the Klamath tribes land. The Klamath treated the Modoc as intruders even though the Modoc were forced upon the land. Traditionally the US broke their promise by not supplying the Modoc people with adequate rations; this act is the main factor that led to the Modoc War. A group of Modoc people by the lead of Captain Jack broke out and fled back to their home land near Tule Lake. Here about 60 Modoc took up refuge in the ruff terrain of the hardened lava fields.

In January of 1873, the US Government sent troops to force the Modoc people back to the reservation. The US attacked the band of Modoc on the foggy morning of the 16th. The army, unprepared for the ruff terrain quickly found themselves loosing this battle; with many US casualties the army retreated leaving everything behind, including the wounded. With this great victory on the Modoc’s side, it gave them an upper hand in peace treaty talks. They had many talks during the days that followed the first battle. Little was accomplished though, Captain Jack was firm on his request for a Lost River reservation. The US Government would not grant this. Hooker Jim and Curly-headed Doctor (Medicine Man) convinced Captain Jack that the only way they could get their land back was to kill the Peace Commissioners. So, armed with guns about eight Modoc met up with the commissioners and killed General Canby and wounded and killed two other commissioners. The Modoc fled again, only to be captured in June of 1873. They were defeated finally by the US Army when a surprise attack by the Modoc went bad. Captain Jack was hung for the murder of General Canby, while the remaining Modoc where forced to a reservation in Oklahoma. Disease and famine killed off many Modoc at the reservation in Oklahoma.

Learn more at the official website: http://www.modoctribe.net/home.html