The Gathering Storm

Thunder Over the Ochoco #1

by Gale Ontko

These four volumes do more to explain the depth and extent of the Indian Nations that existed in the Northwest prior to the fur traders. A vast empire headquartered in present day central Oregon, near the major Indian trading centers on the Columbia River with influences extending east into present day Wyoming, south to Santa Fe, NM and Indio, CA. This series of books is perhaps the only written account of the Shoshone Indians. An Indian nation that witnessed and bore the brunt of the indiscretions of fur traders, explorers, gold hunters, religious pioneers, settlers, and others.

Genres: History

436 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Tyler Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the Native Tribes of the Ochoco valleys of Eastern Oregon. The powerful Shoshone tribes (or Snakes) who controlled the area were feared by all other tribes (Blackfeet, Sioux, Chinook, etc). They were masters of the horse and of the place I now call home. They roamed Oregon for thousands of years until the fur trade commenced, decimating beaver and buffalo, the Shoshone’s way of life. They put up a hell of a fight, but disease and white emigrants were eventually too much. They were forced to give up their way of life. Before the settlers, they roamed the forests and mountains of Oregon, living free in the world. It wasn’t a pretty existence, with war and death all around, but perhaps one of the last people to ever live like this in human history.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a life’s work by this author. I got lost amongst the many many names at times but overall this an amazing and unique and somewhat homespun history illustrating the centuries of conflict that led up to the time of the Oregon Trail. Gives the tribes much respect. The view of human nature is grim. Crazy details include the Spanish coming into central Oregon centuries ago to mine for gold.

[David Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gathering Storm sheds so much light on a very mysterious period in the history of Oregon. It's so easy to imagine that before Spanish, the British and the French Oregon was some type of Eden. Peaceful, bountiful and loving but you learn so much more when you start to investigate the history. The jist of it is that the Shoshoni, a great indian nation eventually was split into many tribes that inhabited the West. The dreaded Comanche, the peaceful Hopi, the traders know as the Utes, the warring Snake, all these tribes come under the umbrella of the Shoshoni. We are introduced to these different tribes during a 700 year drought, before the Spanish came and we follow them well past the game changing introduction of the horse. Once horses were mastered, these different Indian nations were never truly stagnant. Always warring, bartering, fighting and claiming each others territory. As white settlers slowly edged in, Central and Eastern Oregon were some of the last places that these people dared to go. It was well know that the Indians of the interior were masters over their domain and did not bend easily to pressure. Thunder Over the Ochoco's follows this journey through history with surprisingly well documented articles and writing. Newspaper articles, spoken word accounts and the very early history was consulted when writing these chronicles and it shows. A great read for any history nerd!

[Derk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A history of the settling of the Pacific Northwest from a different perspective. It's one of those books that kept me thinking about my ancestors role in some of the deeds and misdeeds of the early pioneers.

[Rod Endacott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book weaves a rich picture of the earliest days of white men in Oregon as well as an amazingly thorough look at the Native American Indian world there. Gloom . . . that is the word that comes mind as I reflect on this phenomenon of this time and place. The blend of two cultures results in intense competition and the inhalation of most of the mammal life. "It seemed the British policy of killing off all the game animals south of the Columbia had only incited them to hunt deeper into Oregon. And when it come to cleaning out beaver from a given area nobody could compare with the American mountain men. He was not interested in conservation; he wanted to make a killing and quit." The author, Gale Ontko, has given me a huge gift - I feel more informed and in position for the work of reconciliation.

[Sid Cervarich · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because I wanted an historical knowledge of the history of Oregon primarily. This book focuses on the indigenous peoples of many tribal nations as well as the immense push of the fur trade activities. Even though I did increase my historical knowledge I ended up being disappointed in this book. I found myself more confused regarding tribes, names of people in those tribes and geographically feeling lost as to where probably hundreds of places actually were (or are). The range of territory extends from Alaska all the way down to Mexico.
Just too much for me to work through in the way that I’m sure the author actually accomplished.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first volume in a five volume set on the history of the Shoshoni tribe in eastern Oregon (thus the title). The author has a writing style that is easy to follow and makes history come alive. The first volume covers the first interactions with nonnative americans due to the trapping of beaver. It covers their interactions with Americans, English, French, Russian and Spanish trappers. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

I have also posted my review on Goodreads, Amazon and my review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page.

[Val Wilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the third book of the series first, this is the first book. I am on to book 2 now. Great history of Oregon.

[Jeff Laing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great Oregon territory history, although some of the information may need further research.

[Arun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wayyyyy too many names to keep track of. I lost attention halfway through but ultimately finished it. Might be more interesting if I was more familiar with the area.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great incite into a period of American history. Gale is a thoughtful and respectful historian.

[jebrahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

the most important, informative, researched (and spectacularly written) books about the westward expansion and the seizure of the westernmost North American lands that will *ever* exist, based on the author's position in time.
Gale Otko's epic should be taught over the course of 4-years to all junior high students in the USA, and of course is not.

[Mike Thoennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you live in the great American Northwest? Do you find U.S. History interesting? Then this is the series for you! This is the first of 5 books that explore the Oregon Territory's history from the time of the first Spanish Explorers in the area, and the Shoshoni Indian's (Snake Indian's) they encountered. Really it is the story of the Snake tribe themselves and their battle to keep their way of life in the face of foreign invaders. So many names and places I did not know the history of are explained in these pages, history I had no inkling of unfolds as you read. It is history told as a story and a great read for anyone.

[KennyO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar! I had nearly no knowledge of the human history of the Pacific Northwest until reading Ontko's Thunder Over the Ochoco. I now live in what used to be known to white men as the Oregon Territory and having read this book I have a far greater appreciation for the land around me and the people who lived here for millenia. Reading this will have you looking forward to the next volume(s).

[Joyce Reynolds-Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good in many ways but there were parts that didn't work for me. It's more of a broad overview which is one of this book's strengths--looked at things going on from both Native and fur trapper perspectives, but also discussed the Russians and alluded to the Chinese trade. Some of the language hearkens back to older perspectives, however, and there's more than a few snarky asides that just fall flat. Otherwise, though, a pretty decent read with a thorough bibliography.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well researched. Mr. Ontko is a dedicated historian and I look forward to reading the rest of the Thunder Over the Ochoco series.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

unbelievably thorough, detailed research