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Don Day
Anthropology

Jon Erlandson, Mentor

Kalapuya Summer Ground

Summer ground for the Kalapuya people was located in the upper elevations of the Cascade Range. Its location suggests there have been many visitors throughout time. The focus of this research is to establish the site of the encampment as well as its approximate size and uses, whether for food processing, shelter, or as a possible trade center. If successful, the current work will be a foundation for more extensive surveys. The area under study has ample water to support a large group of people while hunting animals and gathering plants, berries, and other food sources important to the Kalapuya and other indigenous visitors to the area. Results of this research will benefit the history of the Grand Ronde, Siletz, and Native people throughout the state of Oregon. The current research seeks to test an oral history shared with the author several years ago and demonstrate the continuing importance of oral history within tribal culture.