Klamath << KLAM uhth >> are a Native American people of southwestern Oregon. In earlier times, the Klamath made clothing and many other objects from cattail and tule, two marsh plants abundant in the area. For example, they made fringed skirts, hats, and moccasins from tule and animal skins. They also wove baskets of cattail and tule. They carried, stored, and cooked food in these baskets.
The Klamath built two types of houses, one for winter and one for summer. For winter, they constructed an earthen lodge by first digging a pit in the ground. They then built walls and a roof of wood and covered them with layers of earth and tule mats. An opening in the roof served as both an entrance and a hole to let out smoke. For summer, the Klamath built a shelter called a wickiup. It consisted of a willow frame covered with tule mats. They also built small sweat lodges, where they took ceremonial steam baths to purify themselves.
The Klamath lived in small villages. Each village chose leaders for their ability. Individuals called shamans, believed to have contact with the spirits, cared for the sick.
In 1826, trappers for the Hudson’s Bay Company became the first Europeans to meet the Klamath. In 1864, the Klamath, the Modoc, and a band of Paiute signed a treaty with the U.S. government. Under the treaty, these groups exchanged their land for a reservation that covered about 1 million acres (400,000 hectares). In 1954, Congress passed a law that abolished the reservation and ended federal services for the Klamath. The law took effect in 1961. Most members of the tribe sold their reservation land to the U.S. government, which preserved much of it as Winema National Forest.
According to the 2020 U.S. census, there are about 3,000 Klamath. Many Klamath still live on or near the former reservation. In addition, the Klamath continue to elect tribal leaders and maintain a business office.
