WALLACE W HANSEN

Native Plants of the Northwest

Native Plant Nursery & Gardens

2158 Bower Ct S.E., Salem, Oregon 97301 E-Mail: Wallace W Hansen
PHONE (503)581-2638 FAX(503)581-9957

Updated October 24, 2003

Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark's Bicentennial

Botanical Discoveries of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)

Collected at the Columbia River Narrows in Oregon, October 20, 1805

One of the most useful as well as beautiful Northwest Native shrubs or small trees, the Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) played a part in the daily lives of Native Peoples.

The wood of this plant is small in diameter, but it is very dense and hard and when fresh it is very flexible. It was used for all manner of small implements for food and as tools, it made very sturdy and beautiful showshoe frames or drum hoops, carrying frames, as the form on which dreamcatchers were tied. Today, artists who make "twig" furniture make extensive use of Vine Maple for their creations.

We offer Vine Maples in several sizes at special prices during our Fall Containerized Sale. You'll also find  many other attractive and desirable Northwest Native shrubs and trees during this annual sale.

Vine Maple leaf from Captain Lewis' journal

At this time in 1804:

A fair fine morning. After breakfast we were visited by the old chief of the Big Bellies. This man was old and had transferred his power to his son, who was then out at war against the Snake Indians, who inhabit the Rocky Mountains. At 10 o'clock the S.W. wind rose very high. We collected the chiefs and commenced a council, under an awning and our sails stretched around to keep out as much wind as possible. We delivered a long speech, the substance of which was similar to what we had delivered to the nations below.

The old chief of the Gros Ventres was very restless before the speech was half ended, observed that he could not wait long, that his camp was exposed to the hostile Indians, &c. He was rebuked by one of the chiefs for his uneasiness at such a time as the present. At the end of the speech, - we mentioned the Arikara who accompanied us to make a firm peace. They all smoked with him. I gave this chief a dollar of the American coin, as a medal, with which he was much pleased. In council, we presented him with a certificate of his sincerity and good conduct, &c. We also spoke about the fur which was taken from two Frenchmen by a Mandan, and informed of our intentions of sending back the French hands.

After the council, we gave the presents with much ceremony, and put the medals on the chiefs we intended to make, viz., one for each town, to whom we gave coats, hats, and flags, one grand chief to each nation, to whom we gave medals with the President's likeness. In council, we requested them to give us an answer tomorrow, or as soon as possible, on some points which required their deliberation. After the council was over, we shot the air gun, which appeared to astonish the natives much. The greater part then retired soon after.

The Arikara chief, Arketarnashar, came to me this evening and tells me that he wishes to return to his village and nation. I put him off, saying tomorrow we would have an answer to our talk to their satisfaction and send by him a string of wampum informing what had passed here. An iron, or steel corn mill which we gave to the Mandans was very thankfully received. The prairie was set on fire (or caught by accident) by a young man of the Mandans. The fire went with such velocity that it burned to death a man and woman, who could not get to any place of safety. One man, a woman, and child much burned, and several narrowly escaped the flame.

A boy half white was saved unhurt in the midst of the flame. These ignorant people say this boy was saved by the Great Medicine Spirit because he was white. The cause of his being saved was a green buffalo skin thrown over him by his mother, who perhaps had more foresight for the protection of her son, and less for herself, than those who escaped the flame. The fire did not burn under the skin, leaving the grass around the boy. This fire passed our camp last night about eight o'clock, P.M. It went with great rapidity and looked tremendous.

We sent the presents intended for the grand chief of the Minnetaree, or Big Belly, and the presents, flag, and wampum by the old chief, and those intended for the chief of the lower village by a young chief.

Captain Clark, 29 October 1804

It's interesting to read how the meetings with Native Peoples were conducted and also how Captain Clark viewed the people. I hardly think "ignorant" is a fitting descriptor of any peoples, especially those who have lived quite successfully (and for the most part, quite well) without assistance or guidance from intruders who come bearing gifts of dubious value. The mother who saved her son was surely guided to do so by Spirit. The blend of the child's blood was probably a fact pointed out to the Corps as an opportune way to gain favor with the white men rather than a true belief of the Peoples.

Current events:

From the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Oregon website at http://www.lcbo.net/:

July 13 - November 15, 2003: Reflecting On Lewis & Clark: Contemporary Native American Viewpoints, Maryhill Museum of Art. Curated by Pat Courtney Gold, Wasco Nation of the Warm Springs Confederated Tribes of Oregon, this exhibit features contemporary artwork by nationally recognized Native American artists who have created paintings, sculptures, and traditional artifacts that interpret and express their thoughts on the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1803-06. Reception on July 13 will include a solo flute performance by James Greeley (Hopi/Wasco) and traditional tribal dances by Native American dancers. Contact: Maryhill Museum of Art, (509) 773-3733.

Location: 1726 Washington Street, Oregon City, OR 97045

(503) 657-9336 (503) 557-8590

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Website staff@endoftheoregontrail.org

Description: The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was built in 1995 on the former Donation Land Claim of the first elected governor of the Oregon Country, George Abernethy. A merchant and miller by trade, Abernethy had a vested interest in the continued growth of Oregon City, so he permitted newly arrived emigrants to park their wagons, graze their oxen, and set up camp on a meadow behind his house. That meadow came to be called Abernethy Green, and for many of the early Oregon Trail emigrants, it truly was the Trail's end. 

Alternative approaches are via State Routes 213, 99-E, and 43. The Interpretive Center is just off the end of SR 213 -- turn left at the last light before the Interstate. Taking 99-E or 43 gives you the option of cutting over to Washington Street on the surface streets if you're familiar with Oregon City, but it's easier to take northbound I-205 to Exit 10 from both roads. 

Here's a handy tip for those arriving on 99-E: the entrance ramp from 99-E is a continuous lane that becomes the exit ramp for SR 213, so you are spared from having to merge with the through traffic on the Interstate.

Back Issues:

To see back issues of Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark, click on this link to jump to the index. 

Commemorative Painting by Heidi Hansen:

The illustrated map below was created by renowned botanical artist Heidi D. Hansen especially for this website. Done in ink and watercolors, Heidi shows many of the plants Captain Lewis documented overlaid atop a map showing a portion of the journey. (Click on image for large view). All the plants pictured are available from Wally Hansen! See our online catalog for more information.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Wally

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