There’s a small, vigil in Director Park tonight—tea lights surround small placards that describe massacres of Indigenous people by white settlers in 1850s Oregon.

This first placard reads "This display is dedicated to the countless Indigenous people slaughtered by colonists who wanted their land for themselves. All the massacres recorded here were part of the systematic clearing of all Indigenous peoples by the soon-to-be State of Oregon."

"Each sign has one candle by it for each Indigenous life lost. Candles next this sign represent the countless slaughters that were not recorded in history, and to the many thousands lost to diseases that colonists brought with them."

"Much of the violence was fueled by gold found in Jackson Creek in late 1851 or early 1852. In 1855, the newly elected representative James A. Lupton put forth a plan for volunteer colonizers to kill every Indigenous person living outside of a reservation."

"This was hardly the start of the massacres, but resulted in a series of organized attacks on Indigenous peoples. Often the US army was sent in to slaughter a group of Indigenous peoples. The Indigenous peoples fought back, but eventually most ended up surrendering."

"Most of those that did were sent by steamboat to Portland and from there to the Grande Ronde Reservation. Many were forced to make the journey on foot. By 1857, the Indigenous peoples of Oregon has been cut down to less than 2,000, now on reservations."

“Nasomah Massacre
Jan 28th, 1854

40 white settlers attacked the sleeping village of the Nasomah at the mouth of the Coquille River in Oregon, killing 15 men and one woman.”

“Chetco River Massacre
February 15th, 1854
Nine white settlers attacked a friendly Chetco village on the Chetco River in Oregon, massacring 26 men and a few women. Most of the Chetco were shot while trying to escape.”

" Two Chetco who tried to resist with bows and arrows were burned alive in their houses. Shortly before the attack, the Chetco had been induced to give their weapons away as 'friendly relations were firmly established.'”

“Lupton Massacre
October 8, 1955
A group of white settlers and miners launched a night attack on an Indeginous village near Upper Table Rock, Oregon, killing 23 Indigenous people (mostly elderly men, women, and children). The tribal name of these people has been lost.”

“Little Butte Creek Massacre
December 23, 1855
An impromptu white militia launched a dawn attack on a Tututni and Takelma camp on the Rouge River. Between 19 and 26 Tutuni and Takelma were killed.”

“Grande Ronde River Valley Massacre
June 1856
The Washington territorial militia under Colonel Benjamin Shaw attacked a group of peaceful Cayuse and Walla Walla peoples on the Grande Ronde River. 60 Cayuse and Walla Walla were killed, mostly women, children, and old men.”