TREATY OF OLYMPIA

Joseph T. Hazard, "Treaty of Olympia," Companion to Adventure Portland: Binfords and Mort, 1952, p. 146-47

There was plenty (for Governor Isaac I. Stevens) to do in Olympia during the two months that followed the breaking up of the Chehalis Council: review of legislation; reports on councils and treaties to date, and forecasts of those to come; instructions to Indian agents; giving unceasing care and answering unnumbered questions to wavering Indians; preparing for the coming councils east of the Cascades.

There was, as well, a fast trip to Vancouver to confer with Joel Palmer, head Indian Agent for Oregon. Not of least importance were the frequent conferences with Colonel Mike and the Treaty Corps to whom he conferred the authority to treat with the coast Quinault Indians, who had not sided with Tleyuk, and had left the Chehalis Council with regret. He knew he could salvage a great deal from the aftermath of the broken-off Chehalis River counsellings.

What followed this transfer of treaty-making authority proved that all had not been lost at the Chehalis Council.

On July 1, 1855, Colonel Mike and his helpers signed the "Treaty of Olympia" with Head-Chief Taholah of the Quinaults, and I-Iow-yat'l, of the Quillayutes, coast Indians north from Grays Harbor. Governor Stevens approved and signed this treaty on January 25, on his return from the completed Blackfoot Council. Many of these Indians had not been at the Chehalis Council.

How valuable has been that treaty, and how lasting, is proved by the following event:

On the morning of August 23, 1913, during a trip of "The Mountaineers" of Everett-Seattle-Tacoma, Professor Edmond S. Meany, president of The Mountaineers, appeared with old Chief Taholah who had signed the Treaty of Olympia for his tribe 58 years before. The Chief and the Professor, both tall, dignified, and friendly, stood beside a giant cedar log and talked about the treaty. Their interpreter was Captain Billie Mason, beloved son of Chief Taholah, a modern businessman with mastery of Quinault and English.

As the smoke of our morning fire curled around the regal heads of the two friends, red and white, Taholah and Meany, the old Chief told through his son's translation into English, many pleasant things: he had not regretted one hour, one rising sun, one moon-month, since that treaty of 58 years ago.

His tribe had increased; it had prospered; its great forest of sticks and its white swift river had never failed them as a home; the brothers of the Quinaults were now, always had been, loyal and grateful children of the Great White Father in Washington.

Joseph T. Hazard, "The Treaty of Olympia," Companion to Adventure Portland: Binfords and Mort, 1952. p. 146-47