I didn't know anything about this park, just had a strong sense we were supposed to come here. Turns out there was a town in Champoeg that rivaled for the seat of the Oregon Territory's provisional government during it's heydey, about 50 years after Lewis & Clark. When settlers started flooding in, conflict arose. The first nations wanted life to remain the way it had been for them on their traditional lands. The British-tied Hudson Bay Company wanted independence to maximize profits; the fur trappers were outdoorsmen and many married native wives. New settlers wanted land to farm and the US Government behind them. They saw settlement as a superior form of land use. A vote was taken, settlers for becoming part of the US won out over the Hudson Bay. In April 1851, treaties were discussed with the Kalapuya bands. These were not approved by congress however, and in 1854 and 1855 the tribes were removed to Grand Ronde. Broken promises.
Many people have difficulty accepting that a God of love is also a God who brings judgement on wrong actions. I know I did. But how could a God who created and loves all people whether their skin is brown or white sit back and ignore something so awful as breaking a land treaty? Interestingly, Champoeg never grew into the bustling government seat that the residents had hoped for. Instead, a 47' flood decimated the town in December of 1861. Those who dared to rebuild were flooded out again in 1890. A fluke of nature? Or the removal of God's protection over the town? What do you think?
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