Walla Walla expeditions

rdf:langString Walla Walla expeditions

rdf:langString October 2022

rdf:langString Columbian Plateau to Alta California

rdf:langString it should be shortened in order to succinctly summarize the body

rdf:langString Walla Walla expeditions

rdf:langString The Walla Walla expeditions were two movements of Indigenous people from the Columbian Plateau to Alta California during the mid-nineteenth century. The original expedition was organized to gain sizable populations of cattle for native peoples that lived on Columbian Plateau. Among the prominent members was Walla Walla leader Piupiumaksmaks, his son Toayahnu, Garry of the Spokanes and Cayuse headman Tawatoy. The first expedition arrived at New Helvetia in 1844. The Natives purchased several hundred cattle from American and Mexican settlers. However, a confrontation erupted with Toayahnu being killed by an American. The Plateau natives then escaped from the colony, losing all of their purchased livestock. Toayahnu's death angered many indigenous people across multiple Columbian Plateau nations and for a while it was considered to exact revenge on John Sutter's colony with a mixed military force of 2,000. The Nez Perce Ellis was sent to Fort Vancouver as a delegate of the aggrieved parties. Meetings were held with Hudson's Bay Company officers John McLoughlin and James Douglas. Both men declaimed the Plateau natives attacking the white colonists in Sacramento Valley, stating that they wouldn't sell rifles or other military armaments for such action. Later Ellis would have talks with Elijah White, then Indian subagent for the region. White also voiced against military action, promising to forward the complaints to John Sutter, Thomas O. Larkin the American Consul for Alta California and Governor of Alta California Manuel Micheltorena. The second expedition returned to New Helvetia in 1846, again with Piupiumaksmaks and Tawatoy, along with Lenape Tom Hill among others. Conflict was brewing in the region as the Conquest of California was then in full force. Initial reports among American settlers and military figures of the Walla Walla expedition claimed the force was over a thousand in size. However Piupiumaksmaks declaimed military action and requested peaceable relations and for further commercial transactions to commence. An estimated two thousand cattle was purchased. In addition, ten Walla Wallas were recruited to fight alongside Americans as scouts. When the expedition returned to the Columbian Plateau, it contained members ill with measles. The disease was spread across the Pacific Northwest and was a major cause of the Whitman massacre that occurred shortly after the expedition returned.

rdf:langString * Piupiumaksmaks, head chief of the Walla Walla * Slough-Keetcha, leader of the Spokane * Tawatoy, leader of the Cayuse