Klamath Tribes

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The Klamath Tribes, formerly the Klamath Indian Tribe of Oregon, are a federally recognized confederation of three Native American tribes who traditionally inhabited Southern Oregon and Northern California in the United States: the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin. The tribal government is based in Chiloquin, Oregon.

1 History
- 1.1 Klamath Indian Reservation
- 1.2 Water rights dispute
2 Demographics
3 Economy
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

After signing the 1864 treaty, members of the Klamath Tribes lived on the Klamath Reservation until the United States Congress terminated its recognition of tribal sovereignty in 1954. In 1986, federal recognition was restored, but some of the tribe's original land had been sold. A portion of that land is now part of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex. A new reservation is in the planning stages.^[1]

[edit] Klamath Indian Reservation

The present day Klamath Indian Reservation consists of twelve small non-contiguous parcels of land in Klamath County.^{[citation needed]} These fragments are generally located in and near the communities of Chiloquin and Klamath Falls. Their total land area is 1.248 km² (308.43 acres). As is the case with many Native American tribes^{[citation needed]}, few of the Klamath tribal members actually live on reservation land; the 2000 census reported only nine persons residing on its territory, five of whom were white people.^[2]

[edit] Water rights dispute

Upper Basin Klamath Tribes demonstration in Portland in 2006.

Main article: Klamath Basin water rights dispute

In 2001, an ongoing water rights dispute between the Klamath Tribes and Klamath Basin farmers and fishermen along the Klamath River became national news. As of 2006, the water rights issue is still controversial.

[edit] Demographics

The Klamath Tribes have 3700 enrolled members (as of 2006),^{[citation needed]} and are centered in Klamath County, Oregon. Much tribal land was liquidated when Congress ended federal recognition in 1954 under its Indian termination policy. Some lands were restored when recognition was restored. The tribal administration currently offers services throughout the county.

[edit] Economy

The Kla-Mo-Ya Casino was opened in Chiloquin, Oregon in 1997 and now provides an income stream to the tribes to support governance and other activities.