California Treaty Q: Camp Klamath, 1851 (unratified)

What happened

On October 6, 1851, at Camp Klamath, where the Klamath and Trinity rivers meet, Indian agent Redick McKee made a treaty with chiefs, captains and head men of the Poh-lik or lower Klamath, the Peh-tsick or upper Klamath and the Hoo-pah or Trinity River Indians. In Article 3 they agreed to "relinquish, cede, and forever quit claim" to the United States all their right, title, claim or interest in lands in California. Article 4 set apart a reservation beginning at the mouth of John's Creek on the Trinity River. Article 5 had the tribes move onto it within three years or sooner if the United States required.

Article 6 promised blankets, clothing and other goods in 1852 and 1853. Article 7 promised axes, bread, bullocks and blankets within sixty days, "to enable them to rebuild the houses recently destroyed by the whites."

None of it took effect. It was one of 18 treaties made in California in 1851 and 1852. The National Archives' Prologue magazine says the senators found the commissioners' appointments irregular, were unsure whether Mexico had recognized native land title, and heard strong objections from white Californians. The Senate "rejected the treaties and, following Senate rules, imposed an injunction of secrecy on them." With the treaties rejected, Indian title was left unresolved. Prologue adds that Indians of California later sought compensation for lands taken without payment in a case before the Indian Claims Commission. It reports that "the case was decided in favor of the Indians."

Good to know. Sources give July 2 or July 8, 1852 as the date the Senate rejected it.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error