Billy Chinook

Billy Chinook was a chief and member of the Wasco tribe. Chinook was a guide for John C. Frémont and Kit Carson who explored Central Oregon from 1843 to 1844 and 1845 to 1847. Chinook also served as a First Sergeant, U.S. Army Wasco Scouts during the Shoshone War. Lake Billy Chinook in Oregon is named in his honor.

Billy Chinook (aka William Parker) was born circa 1827 in the area that was to become Fort Dalles, Oregon Country. He was baptized by Reverend Daniel Lee of the Wascopam Mission which was a part of the Methodist Mission in the Oregon Country. Chinook was an orphan and lived at the mission. In the summer of 1843, then-Lieutenant John C. Frémont and Kit Carson visited the present-day Bend, Oregon and The Dalles, Oregon areas. Chinook was 16 to 19 years old at the time and was recruited by Frémont as a guide. The Frémont expedition (Frémont's second) then explored central Oregon and the Klamath Basin; and further into present day Nevada and California areas through July 1844.

In 1845 Frémont traveled to Washington, D.C. with Chinook. While there, Frémont awarded a medal to Chinook which bore the likeness of the president and the inscription: Martin Van Buren President of the United States A.D. 1845 on the obverse. The reverse has an image of clasped hands (U.S. military and Native), a tomahawk crossed with a peace pipe and the words Peace and Friendship. ^{[1] [2]} While in Washington, D.C. Chinook studied english at Columbian College.

Chinook then traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he lived with the Quaker family of Dr. Caspar Wistar, and studied English further. When Frémont departed for his Third Expedition to the Far West on June 1, 1845 Chinook accompanied him again as a guide.

He quit Frémont's expedition in June 1847 while in northern California. Chinook spent the next few years in California, marrying a Californian/Mexican woman; and acquiring a large herd of California/Mexican cattle. By 1851 he had returned to his native village near The Dalles and settled on a land claim on Mill Creek. Chinook began to assist his people using his English skills.

In 1853 Chinook wrote a letter to Joel Palmer, Oregon Superintendent of Indian Affairs asking him to protect native lands at The Dalles area from encroachment by non-native settlers. In 1855 he represented the Wasco Nation at treaty negotiations with the U.S. government. He was he was one of three elected Chiefs of the Wasco Nation; representing the Dalles Wasco. He was a signatory to the treaty that established the Warm Springs Reservation. Chinook lost his land claim at Mill Creek in 1856 and removed to the Warm Springs Reservation. ^[3]

Chinook enlisted as Acting First Sergeant in Captain John Darraghs Company of (50) U.S. Army Indian Scouts, in 1866 for a term of 1 year during the Shoshone War. First Sergeant Chinook participated in the first battle of the war in present day Crook County, Oregon. ^[4]

In 1866 Chief Paulina and his half-brother Chief Wahveveh of the Northern Piaute tribe directed their warriors to kill Wasco Chief Queapama. The Paiutes had a long history of conflict with the Wascos and other Columbia River tribes. Chief Queapama was murdered by the Paiutes during a feigned parley at the Warm Springs Reservation, Oregon.

In summer of 1866 Chinook departed base camp at McKay Creek with a detachment of 25 scouts. At Dry Creek he came upon a band of encamped Paiutes. Chinook had orders not to engage with the Paiutes while on patrol. He reconnoitered the area, counting fires and tents to assess the number of Paiutes. At dawn when the first cooking fires were observed, Chinooks detachment attacked and killed all 32 Paiutes in the camp. Chinooks scouts thus avenged the death of Chief Queapama, albeit he disobeyed orders.

Chinook and his Wasco scouts tracked Chief Paulina, to an area near Lake Harney by Steens Mountain Oregon. Chief Paulina and his warriors retreated to a cave protected by boulders. Chief Paulina's half-brother Chief Wahveveh and two of his warriors were also killed.^[5]

Chinook lived at the Warm Springs Reservation after his discharge from the army. He continued to champion the cause of the Wasco Nation until his death on December 9, 1890. He was buried in the reservation cemetery and his epitaph reads in part: A faithful and true friend of the white man. ^[6]

Lake Billy Chinook

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs named a lake in honor of Billy Chinook in the area where he guided Frémont and Carson. The lake extends beyond the boundaries of The Cove Palisades State Park in Oregon. Jordan Road Falls, a waterfall which plunges 160 feet into Lake Billy Chinook from the precipice of Crooked River Canyon, it is known locally (unofficially) as Billy Chinook Falls. ^[7][8]

References