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Honoring Paul Washington: The Man Behind Our Tribal Cemetery's Name

Honoring Paull Washington: The Man Behind Our Tribal Cemetery's Name February 9, 1894 – September 28, 1918 L-R: Eddie Charley, Jip Washington, Paul Washington , Eddie Frye, Skinner Williams - Siletz - circa 1910 Have you ever stopped and thought about why our Siletz cemetery bears the name Paul Washington, and who exactly he was? Nestled on the Siletz Reservation in Oregon, the Paul Washington Cemetery is a place of deep historical and emotional ground for our community. The cemetery is named in honor of Private 1st Class Paul Washingt on—a young Siletz man of the 91st Division who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I, giving his life in service to his country at just 24 years of age. As noted in tribal histories like Charles Wilkinson's The People Are Dancing Again , Paul's legacy runs deep through the generations as the grandson of Shasta Tyee Push Wash. Though time nearly reclaimed the site, local families formed the Paul Washington Cemetery Association in the...
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Joe Cook (Kashlanduc): The Story of a Sixes (Tututni) Elder in Court

Joe Cook (Kashlanduc): The Story of a Sixes (Tututni) Elder in Court


Joe Cook (Kashlanduc), a Sixes (Tututni) elder and veteran of the Rogue River Wars, photographed around the time of his 1904 court appearance in The Oregonian.

When looking through historical archives, you occasionally stumble across stories that capture a complex moment in time. While researching my Kwatami/Sixes ancestors and looking at known Sixes families at Siletz, I've been amazed to see how deeply interconnected everyone is through our shared heritage and DNA. A while back, I came across an article from The Oregonian (April 28, 1904, page 14) titled "Last of His Tribe. Venerable Indian Chief Appears in Court.

The Oregonian (April 28, 1904) report covering Joe Cook's court appearance in a perjury case stemming from testimony regarding the Siletz Reservation.

The article featured Joe Cook, a Sixes Indian (Tututni) whose traditional name was Kashlanduc—meaning "short boy."

Who Was Joe Cook?

Born in 1847 to parents Tootootooney Sixes and a mother from the Joshua band of the Tututni—as noted in historical census records—Joe Cook was descended from a line of chiefs of the Sixes.

At the time of the 1904 article in The Oregonian, the newspaper described him as:

  • A ward of the government and one of the most noted individuals on the Siletz Reservation.

  • A veteran and one of the last survivors of the bloody Rogue River Wars, bearing a visible reminder of his service and combat: a scar on his face from a bullet wound.

Continuation of the 1904 The Oregonian article, describing Joe Cook's background, his heritage as a Sixes (Tututni) elder, and his memories of the Rogue River Wars.

The 1904 Court Appearance

The newspaper framed his appearance around a dramatic legal event: Cook had been brought in to answer to a charge of perjury stemming from previous testimony. However, when the case reached the courtroom, the judge determined that the indictment was faulty. The judge ordered the jury to return a verdict of not guilty, and Cook was free to go.

Setting the Record Straight: Not the "Last"

While contemporary newspapers like The Oregonian frequently sensationalized stories by labeling Native individuals as the "last of their tribe," we know today that this was far from the truth. There are many descendants of the Sixes and Tututni people living today, and our communities remain strong, vibrant, and deeply connected to our history.

Historical accounts like this provide a fascinating window into the challenges our ancestors navigated, even if we have to read between the lines to correct the historical record and honor the true legacy of families who survived and carried our traditions forward.





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Location: Siletz, OR 97380, USA

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