Cultural Calendar

Welcome to the Cultural Calendar of the Northwest American Indian Coalition! Our calendar is dedicated to celebrating progress and accomplishments and preserving historical moments of the Southern Oregon Coast Tribes. This calendar includes significant dates, cultural events, and important information specific to our community. We invite you to explore and participate in these meaningful celebrations and observances.

Why Our Cultural Calendar Matters

Our Cultural Calendar is an important educational resource that highlights significant dates and events, allowing us to honor our past, celebrate our present, and inspire future generations. This calendar plays a crucial role in preserving our heritage, fostering community conversations and understanding, and passing down our traditions and knowledge.

What Else You'll Find

  • Educational Resources: Access materials and resources to learn more about our traditions, history, and cultural practices.

How to Use the Cultural Calendar

  • Stay Informed: Regularly check the calendar for upcoming events and important dates.

  • Get Involved: Participate in events and ceremonies to deepen your connection with our community and heritage.

  • Share the Knowledge: Spread the word about our cultural calendar to friends, family, and community members to ensure broad participation and awareness.

Join Us in Celebrating Our Heritage

The Cultural Calendar is more than just a list of dates; it's a living document that reflects the heartbeat of our community. By participating in these events and honoring these dates, we strengthen our bonds, preserve our traditions, and ensure that our cultural heritage continues to thrive for generations to come.

Explore our Cultural Calendar today and join us in celebrating the rich and vibrant traditions of the Southern Oregon Coast Tribes.

  • Lha’ num-nii-man’s (January)

    • National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

    • [Jan 5] National Bird Day

    • [Jan 10, 1856] First Trail of Tears-Tribes at the Umpqua reservation (inland) begin walking north to Grand Ronde Reservation. (Report of R.B. Metcalf,  31st March 1856)

    • [Jan 16] Religious Freedom Day. Native people could not lawfully conduct spiritual practices until 1978 because of America’s tyranny of Christianity. It literally took an act of Congress, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, to ensure we would not go to jail for praying

    • [Jan 28, 1954] Nasomah Massacre in Oregon. 40 white settlers attacked the sleeping village of the Nasomah Indians at the mouth of the Coquille River in Oregon, killing 15 men and 1 woman.

  • Naa-xe num-nii-man’s (February)

    • Ethnic Equality Month, Teen dating violence awareness month, 

    • [Feb 14, 1859] Oregon becomes a state

    • [Feb 15, 1854] Chetco River Massacre. 9 white settlers attacked a friendly Chetco village on the Chetco River in Oregon, massacring 26 men and a few women. Most of the Chetco were shot while trying to escape.

    • [Feb 25, 1880] Chemawa Indian School opened. Named after the Chemawa band of the Kalapuya people of the Willamette Valley, it opened on February 25, 1880 as an elementary school.

  • Taa-xe num-nii-man’s (March)

    • [March 3, 1875] The reduction of the Coast Reservation by the termination of the Alsea reservation and the territory above the Salmon River. The Reservation is reduced to the area of “Lincoln County” from the Coast to the Siletz Valley. The reservation is also renamed “Siletz Reservation.”

    • Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

    • [Mar 20, 2022] Spring Equinox

    • [Mar 20] National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

    • [Mar 21] Int'l Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

  • Dvn-chi’ num-nii-man’s (April)

    • Alcohol Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Stress Awareness Month

    • [April 11 to April 16, 1851] Treaty with the Santiam Band of Calapooia,

    • April 13, 1856] Joel Palmer ordered the Coos Bay Indians to go to the Umpqua River (coastal) (Palmer letter of April 13, 1856)

    • [April 24] Arbor/Earth Day

  • Srwee-la num-nii-man’s (May)

    • [May 5] Annual MMIW Awareness Day

    • [May 8, 2022] Mother’s Day

    • [May 17-18] Tseriadun Village Honoring Ceremony, Port Orford

    • [May 24 , 1856] Palmer plans to meet some 600 friendly Indians to arrive at Dayton the next day, from Port Orford, refugees of the Rogue River War. They are en route to the Coast Reservation to be located at the Siletz River.  (letter of June 23, 1856, M234)

    • [May 27- 28, 1856] Battle of Big Bend, fighting for 3-4 days and the surrender of 255 Indians.  (Palmer letter of 7 3 1856)

  • K’wee-staa-ni num-nii-man’s (June)

    • [Jun 2, 1924] American Indians gained citizenship 

    • [June 9th, 1851] Captain William Tichenor of the Steamship Sea Gull landed nine men for the purpose of establishing a white settlement.

    • [June 13, 1856] began marching to Port Orford from the Illinois River with 708 Indians for removal. (Palmer letter of 7 3 1856)

    • [June 20, 1856 at 2am] Steamship Columbia dropped anchor in the harbor. Later that day, approximately 670 people were loaded into the Columbia, a ship meant to only hold 100 passengers, and sailed north.

    • [June 21, 1856] 710 Indians sent by steamer to Grand Ronde (Schwartz, Palmer letter of 7 3 1856)

    • [Jun 21, 2022] Summer Solstice, Nee-dash

    • [June 23, 1853] Howonquet & Yontocket Massacre

    • [June 28, 1989] Coquille Restoration

  • Srch’ee-te num-nii-man’s (July)

    • [Culture] Surf Fishing Time, Pelicans Fish, Tidepools Gleam, Butterflies Flutter

    • [July 2, 1856] Tecumtum surrenders at Fort Orford, marks the end of the Rogue River War (Schwartz marks the end with the removal of the tribes from the region, but this removal went on for another decade) (Schwartz).

    • [July 8, 1856] after more native prisoners had been brought to Fort Orford, a second voyage of the Steamer Columbia took away about 700 more individuals.

    • [July 9, 1856] Coastal Trail of Tears– march of Tecumtum followers, Chetco and Pistol Rivers up the coast to Coast reservation. They arrive about August 9th. (Palmer letter of 7 3 1856)

  • Naa-xan-du’ num-nii-man’s (August)

    • [Culture] Bear Grass Gathering Time, Shorebirds Flock, Summer Salmon Arrive, Meteor Showers Dazzle

    • [Aug 17, 1855] Meeting with the Umpqua, Siuslaw and Coos Bay Indians, negotiated with E.P. Drew, R. Metcalf

    • [Aug 23, 1855] Meeting with the Na-so-mah or Coquille bands of Indians, negotiated with E.P. Drew

    • [Aug 30, 1855] Meeting with the Tututni and Chetco Bands of Indians, negotiated with E.P. Drew

  • Lha’-du’ num-nii-man’s (September)

    • [Culture] Huckleberry Picking Time, Wild Berries Ripen, Banana Slugs Slime, Seabirds Move

    • [Sept 22, 2022] Autumn Equinox

    • [Sept 8, 1855] Meeting with other bands of the Coquille Indians, negotiated with J. Flett

    • [Sept 8, 1853] Treaty of Peace with the Rogue River, a Cease Fire, between the Rogue River Bands of Chief Apserkahar (Chief Jo) and Chief Sam and General Joseph Lane.

    • [Sept 10] World Suicide Prevention Day- Hope for Life Day

    • [Sept 10thsih) Run to the Rogue

  • Nee-san num-nii-man’s (October)

    • [Culture] Acorns Ripen, Fall Migrants Visit, Hawks & Raptors hunt

    • [Oct 17, 1984] CTCLUSI Restoration

    • [Oct 20, 2022] The Great ShakeOut will be held on the Third Thursday of October, every year

  • Nee-san-lha’-ch’aa-ta num- nii-man’s (November)

    • Native American Heritage Month

    • [Nov 9, 1855] President Franklin Pierce signed the executive order establishing the Coast Reservation

    • [Nov 1855] Coos and other coastal tribes removed to two temporary reservations, Coos at Empire reservation, and others at Port Orford (inferred from a letter of E.P. Drew November 10, 1858)

    • [Nov 9, 1855] Creation of the Coast Indian Reservation by Presidential Executive Order of Franklin Pierce. 100 miles of the Oregon coast from Tillamook area to just south of Florence, 1.1 million acres.

    • [Nov 15, 1854] ​​Rogue River Treaty of 1854, Negotiated November 15, 1854, Ratified March 3, 1855

    • [Nov 18, 1977] Siletz Restoration

  • Nee-san-naa-xee-ch’aa-ta num-nii-man's (December)

    • [Dec 2, 1845] Manifest destiny

    • [Dec 21, 2022] Winter Solstice, Nee-dash

    • [Dec 22, 1983] Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation restoration. By US Federal Court decision Tillie Hardwick, et al. v. United States of America, et al. Case #C-79-1710-SWAt the time of the Hardwick I decision 89.49 acres of land were restored to the tribal trust