For many Cascadians the first days of May should hold a value for several different reasons. For those conscious of labour movements (workers and the politally left) May Day was the international workers day marked with historical tragedies. This should be a history everyone should learn and honor those that fought and still fight for the rights and safety of all of us. For those Cascadians who honor various religious or spiritual paths associated with changing seasons and Nature then May Day marks an ancient holiday often celebrated as Beltaine. Also the day following May Day should have historical signifigance for Cascadians, Oregonians and the people of the various states and provinces that were the Old Oregon County. May 2nd marks the anniversary of "Founders' Day" the day in 1843 when European and mixed settlers in the French Prairie (within the Willamette Valley) at town of Champoeg voted to create the first independent western style democratic government. Those dedicated to preserving American national mythology about those events often simply claim it was an election decide on whether the Oregon Country should join the USA. The reality as in many cases with nation-state mythology is that the situation was far more complex that Amerikan nationalists would have people believe. Almost half voted against formation of an independent government for various reasons. For some because they were employed by the Hudson Bay Company that already managed for British citizens (including French Canadians and Metis) juridical matters in the region. For some it was fear that the US Americans were quickly spreading across North America using Anglo-American immigration to change the political landscape and therefore challenge any and all other residence of the region (Texas, California and the rest of the Mexican Cession where in the process of Amerikanization at the time). Some voted in favor of the formation of a government because of the lack of legal status for some residents that migrated from the US (the Ewing Young case was the prime legal case for that reason). Others voted for establishment of a government with the idea of a Republic of the Pacific in mind independent of the US (Osborne Russell even ran for the first Provisional Governor position in 1845 from the Independents stance). Thomas Jefferson himself sent the Corp of Discovery as a scientific exploration and deplomatic mission to the lands west of the Stony Mountains (the Rockies) not as US Amerikan national mythology suggests as exploring future conquest or annexation, but originally Jefferson envisioned the region as a future Republic of the Pacific independent and on its own path to a parallel democratic tradition. It was American expansionists like president Polk with a the campaign slogan "Fifty-four Forty or Fight!" and American nationalist journalist John Louis O'Sullivan with his concept of Divine American Imperialism in the concept of "Manifest Destiny" that drove the idea that the Oregon Country was the "property" of American Empire. Of course all this ignored what Native People and other residents thought in the region.
In Chinook Jargon the land west of the Rockies was called Chinook Illahee meaning land of the Chinook Jargon Speakers.
Using historical and civil events to deconstruct our shared history maybe one method to getting the meme out about Cascadia.
Unfortunately today the park system does not celebrate Founders Day on its origianl May 2nd, but does honor that historic event on May 6th at Champoeg (near Wilsonville).
www.champoeg.org/
|
homepage: