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Modoc: The Tribe That Wouldn't Die
The Tribe That Wouldn t Die
Cheewa James, a direct Modoc descendant, offers in The Tribe That Wouldn t Die an explosive and personal story of her ancestry. A decade of steady research and writing has produced a richly documented, deeply moving narrative. The book also contains 30 fictionalized vignettes.
This book is the most comprehensive ever written about this remarkable tribe, covering Modoc ancestral times, the Modoc War, and the practically unknown story of what happened after the war. Its 350 pages contain over 150 blk/wh and color photographs, many rare and never before published.
In a desperate, last-ditch effort in 1873 to cling to their ancestral lands, the Modoc Indians, numbering some 55 warriors, fought the U. S. Army s most expensive American Indian war. It cost $10,000 in 1873 currency to subdue each Modoc warrior. That is $282,220 in today s money. By the end of the six-month battle, over 1,000 soldiers were involved.
James book documents the massive attempt to rout out the Modocs and their families. The match for the Modoc Stronghold has not been built and never will be...It is the most impregnable fortress in the world, despaired Lt. Thomas Wright, who fought and eventually died in the war. The natural fortification still exists today in the jagged, desolate terrain known as the Lava Beds National Monument, California.
Were it not for Custer s Little Bighorn Battle, the Modoc War would probably be remembered as America s most significant Indian confrontation. Lt. Col. Frank Wheaton, who commanded the military, said in an 1873 I have never before encountered an enemy, civilized or savage, occupying a position of such great natural strength as the Modoc Stronghold. Nor have I ever seen a better armed or more skillful foe.
This war dominated the front pages of newspapers all over America. A brigadier general was killed. Military men dropped like flies and most soldiers never even saw an Indian, as elusive Modocs slipped through the tortuous lava, in and out of the Stronghold.
James book is unique because it reveals for the first time the contents of two sets of letters written 135 years ago by military soldiers who fought in the war. The substance of these letters adds new pages to Modoc history.
It is generally acknowledged that the Modoc culture, including the language, was lost as a result of the war. What is not realized is that the last chapter of that war is not yet written. One hundred and fifty Modoc men, women, and children were put in chains at the end of the war and sent by train as prisoners of war to Oklahoma Indian Territory. Approximately one hundred other Modocs, who did not participate in the war, remained on a reservation in Oregon. Families were split, separated by half a continent. Relatives were torn apart as their wails filled the air. Tribal culture and structure fell into decline.
One hundred thirty-five years later, the descendants of these Modoc people, having the same bloodlines and ancestors, possessing the same family pictures tucked away in drawers and old photo albums, are strangers. They do not know each other.
It is time to unify the Modocs in spirit erase the forced split resulting from those terrible days. What balm that would bring to the souls of those old Modocs. It is time for cousins to meet cousins and kin to know what happened over a century ago. Modocs need to know how they belong to each other even now. We need to build an understanding of other people and raise our children that way. Honor people as the human beings they are, regardless of race, gender, religion, and all the other walls and barriers to diversity that can be concocted.
Cheewa James, a direct Modoc descendant, offers in The Tribe That Wouldn t Die an explosive and personal story of her ancestry. A decade of steady research and writing has produced a richly documented, deeply moving narrative. The book also contains 30 fictionalized vignettes.
This book is the most comprehensive ever written about this remarkable tribe, covering Modoc ancestral times, the Modoc War, and the practically unknown story of what happened after the war. Its 350 pages contain over 150 blk/wh and color photographs, many rare and never before published.
In a desperate, last-ditch effort in 1873 to cling to their ancestral lands, the Modoc Indians, numbering some 55 warriors, fought the U. S. Army s most expensive American Indian war. It cost $10,000 in 1873 currency to subdue each Modoc warrior. That is $282,220 in today s money. By the end of the six-month battle, over 1,000 soldiers were involved.
James book documents the massive attempt to rout out the Modocs and their families. The match for the Modoc Stronghold has not been built and never will be...It is the most impregnable fortress in the world, despaired Lt. Thomas Wright, who fought and eventually died in the war. The natural fortification still exists today in the jagged, desolate terrain known as the Lava Beds National Monument, California.
Were it not for Custer s Little Bighorn Battle, the Modoc War would probably be remembered as America s most significant Indian confrontation. Lt. Col. Frank Wheaton, who commanded the military, said in an 1873 I have never before encountered an enemy, civilized or savage, occupying a position of such great natural strength as the Modoc Stronghold. Nor have I ever seen a better armed or more skillful foe.
This war dominated the front pages of newspapers all over America. A brigadier general was killed. Military men dropped like flies and most soldiers never even saw an Indian, as elusive Modocs slipped through the tortuous lava, in and out of the Stronghold.
James book is unique because it reveals for the first time the contents of two sets of letters written 135 years ago by military soldiers who fought in the war. The substance of these letters adds new pages to Modoc history.
It is generally acknowledged that the Modoc culture, including the language, was lost as a result of the war. What is not realized is that the last chapter of that war is not yet written. One hundred and fifty Modoc men, women, and children were put in chains at the end of the war and sent by train as prisoners of war to Oklahoma Indian Territory. Approximately one hundred other Modocs, who did not participate in the war, remained on a reservation in Oregon. Families were split, separated by half a continent. Relatives were torn apart as their wails filled the air. Tribal culture and structure fell into decline.
One hundred thirty-five years later, the descendants of these Modoc people, having the same bloodlines and ancestors, possessing the same family pictures tucked away in drawers and old photo albums, are strangers. They do not know each other.
It is time to unify the Modocs in spirit erase the forced split resulting from those terrible days. What balm that would bring to the souls of those old Modocs. It is time for cousins to meet cousins and kin to know what happened over a century ago. Modocs need to know how they belong to each other even now. We need to build an understanding of other people and raise our children that way. Honor people as the human beings they are, regardless of race, gender, religion, and all the other walls and barriers to diversity that can be concocted.
- GenresNonfiction
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Cheewa James
7 books5 followersBuckle your seat belt—it's time to get to know Cheewa James!
As a client once said, "When Cheewa is on, the electricity and energy kick in. We learn, we enjoy, we grow."
Cheewa is a sought-after keynote speaker and corporate trainer, having worked with associations and corporations across the United States and Canada. She is especially known for her presentations on leadership, dealing with change and finding a balanced life style.
With a name like Cheewa, there has to be something different going on—and there is. She says it best herself: "My father is Modoc Indian and my mother is German."
Although addressing contemporary, cutting edge business and training issues, Cheewa often uses Native American thinking to illustrate a point. She creates a feel for diversity in a very subtle way. Cheewa was born on the Klamath Indian Reservation, Oregon, and is enrolled with the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma.
A former television anchorwoman and reporter, Cheewa is the recipient of seven UPI (United Press International) awards. She has been awarded the National Golden Mike Award for excellence in television production. She is currently a Sacramento PBS on-air talent.
An accomplished author with nearly 150 articles in print, Cheewa's work has appeared in Smithsonian, National Wildlife, Chicago Tribune, Portland Oregonian and Kansas City Star. Her latest book, MODOC: The Tribe That Wouldn’t Die, is the phenomenal story of her own tribe, written over a 12 year period.
Cheewa is degreed in the area of communication with graduate work in education. She is a credentialed teacher.
As a client once said, "When Cheewa is on, the electricity and energy kick in. We learn, we enjoy, we grow."
Cheewa is a sought-after keynote speaker and corporate trainer, having worked with associations and corporations across the United States and Canada. She is especially known for her presentations on leadership, dealing with change and finding a balanced life style.
With a name like Cheewa, there has to be something different going on—and there is. She says it best herself: "My father is Modoc Indian and my mother is German."
Although addressing contemporary, cutting edge business and training issues, Cheewa often uses Native American thinking to illustrate a point. She creates a feel for diversity in a very subtle way. Cheewa was born on the Klamath Indian Reservation, Oregon, and is enrolled with the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma.
A former television anchorwoman and reporter, Cheewa is the recipient of seven UPI (United Press International) awards. She has been awarded the National Golden Mike Award for excellence in television production. She is currently a Sacramento PBS on-air talent.
An accomplished author with nearly 150 articles in print, Cheewa's work has appeared in Smithsonian, National Wildlife, Chicago Tribune, Portland Oregonian and Kansas City Star. Her latest book, MODOC: The Tribe That Wouldn’t Die, is the phenomenal story of her own tribe, written over a 12 year period.
Cheewa is degreed in the area of communication with graduate work in education. She is a credentialed teacher.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 12, 2022
My family went camping at Lake Siskiyou, and we visited the Mt. Shasta Museum. They had great interactive exhibits and a good selection of books, especially books by Native American authors telling the histories of their people. After our camping trip, my sister took an extended trip to visit the Lava Beds National Monument. She told me that the book I had purchased, "Modoc: the Tribe that Wouldn't Die," recounts the Modoc War, which mostly took place in the lava beds.
Author Cheewa James, the great granddaughter of Shkeitko, AKA Shacknasty Jim, writes the story of her ancestors' battle against the white army. About fifty-five Modoc warriors held off 1,000 soldiers for 6 months in and around the lava beds. James' grandfather was born during the war in one of the lava caves, and he barely survived his infancy.
Using historical documents, interviews, and explorations of the area, James writes a comprehensive history of the Modoc War and a picture into the lives of the Modocs before and after white settlement.
I can't wait to visit the Lava Beds National Monument for myself and to learn more about the resilient Modoc people and their beautiful land.
Author Cheewa James, the great granddaughter of Shkeitko, AKA Shacknasty Jim, writes the story of her ancestors' battle against the white army. About fifty-five Modoc warriors held off 1,000 soldiers for 6 months in and around the lava beds. James' grandfather was born during the war in one of the lava caves, and he barely survived his infancy.
Using historical documents, interviews, and explorations of the area, James writes a comprehensive history of the Modoc War and a picture into the lives of the Modocs before and after white settlement.
I can't wait to visit the Lava Beds National Monument for myself and to learn more about the resilient Modoc people and their beautiful land.
August 13, 2022
Excellent mixture of research and story telling. The author tells the story of the Modoc Wars as a family history because she is related to many of the Native people involved. This story includes both good and bad on all sides, the Modoc and other tribes, settlers, the US army, government officials and missionaries. This is a rich part of California history told through quotes, newspaper and other dispatches and novelistic story telling. Well worth the read
January 22, 2011
Outstanding,so much information is provided in this book on the Modoc people and the loss of their lands around Tule Lake in Northern California and removal to a reservation in Oregon except for Captain Jack and his followers. Detailed information on the cause of the “Modoc War” by two cattlemen who wanted to ranch all of the land equal to several reasonable-sized counties and well as errors on both sides, Modoc, settlers and government. Detailed account of the ‘war’ of 50 Modoc men with 100 women and children in tow eluding and winning the numerous battles against 300 regular military plus volunteers and scouts in the lava beds. After final surrender from lack of water this group of Modocs was exiled and shipped by cattle car to Oklahoma where in 6 years the population dropped from over 150 to 99 due to the corrupt administration and a ring headed by the Indian Agent stealing the money and sending bad flour and meat making the people ill and not providing any medical services. Also a group of Quakers scammed them out of resources and goods. Very through complete history of the Modocs. Recommended reading
July 24, 2015
A "native" to the area, born in Ft Klamath and raised off of Modoc road and Agency Lake, I've always been aware there was a big story and rich native American history, but never took the time to learn about it. This book was my first dip into the waters. Cheewa clearly has obviously done research, and also clearly cares about the subject; both show up in her writing. I walked away from the last page feeling more connected, understanding, and excited about the Modoc people's history and people of this area.
December 8, 2010
This is history that reads like a great adventure! The Modocs are a story of bravery, perseverance, adaptability and pride.
Cheewa James has honored her people by telling their story. She has honored us by sharing their story.
Cheewa James has honored her people by telling their story. She has honored us by sharing their story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews