Have you ever heard of the Modoc war of 1873? Let us take a look at this historical period of indigenous resistance.
Preface: The Modoc lived around Tule Lake, Medicine Lake, Mount Shasta and the lava fields. What is referred to by colonists as northern California and southern Oregon. They knapped arrowheads at an obsidian mountain. Roots would have been a big part of their diet. The Modoc had their land stolen by colonists who didn’t and still don’t know what to do with the land they stole. For a colonist its generally too rugged. 16 years ago, i stood in the Medicine lake and a Modoc holy man prayed for me and blessed me with a golden eagle feather fan he dipped in the lake.
Applegate Trail And Colonial Land Theft: Settlers complained that the indigenous were menacing them and petitioned the U.S government in 1872. Applegate, the man the trail is named after hated indigenous people. Colonists were burning effigies of The Modoc warriors at one point. Colonists at this place in time had a series of cruel interactions with indigenous peoples. They behaved like they just wanted the indigenous gone. The colonists destroyed Modoc root gardens and took their best hunting grounds. President Grant was calling for the extermination of the Modoc. Modocs resisted land theft and were far bolder than colonists expected. One incident claims a group of 12 Modocs came to a homestead and invited themselves in for dinner and ate until they were full.
Hooker Jim Takes To The Warpath: Hooker Jim who was around 18 years old took his band and attacked settlers trying to liberate the land. The Modoc didn’t understand the concept of how many colonists were coming some thought they could kill the colonists and that would be that. Hooker Jims band was able to kill 14 settlers and attacked a house.
The pettiness of tribalism: Hooker Jims band betrayed Captain Jack by helping the army look for him and later they would be forced to stand together at the stronghold after the betrayal. Klamath were competing against the Modoc and would not allow them water and food eventually. These and other instances are examples of what Nkrumah calls the pettiness of tribalism. We can learn from this thru historical and dialectical materialism the need for a pan indigenous government and pan indigenous unity. These and continued acts of pettiness are barriers to unity.
Ghost Dance: A ghost dance leader was present at the stronghold. A giant circle marked in red was created on the lava. It was said by the ghost dance leader that they could not be harmed in the circle. Also with this belief came an element of the dead being brought back to life and all the Europeans to go away. Even though the Modoc were surrounded by troops and militia they danced the ghost dance. Most likely they completed a 4 day dance.
Stuff Your “Peace” Commission: The Modoc present at the stronghold took a vote. Colonists were determined to exploit the Modoc and “peace” was really just a word for the end of the way of life for the Modoc so they voted to attack the so called peace commission. Captain Jack who was only 36 at the time would go along with the vote and lead the attack. He was accompanied by Boston Charlie, Schonchin John, and Black Jim who later would hang in the gallows for it. Captain Jack shot General Canby right under the left eye. The resistance fighter of Illahee had adopted a splendid guerilla tactic of greasing all the officers. They killed many officers and this time they killed a General. It is said that Hooker Jim, Shacknasty Jim and Steamboat Frank and others were there as well.
“We are not dogs. Me and my men refuse to be slaves to a race that is no better than mine” Captain Jack
At The Stronghold: The Modoc wars were one of the most costly wars in U.S history. It took 1000 U.S soldiers to take on 50 to 70 Modocs a few of which were women. A baby was born at the stronghold during the standoff. We don’t die we multiply. The lava flow takes up some 47,000 acres and has a few hundred caves. The lava also provided walkways where the Modoc could defend one side of the lava beds and then run to the other and defend there. At one-point soldiers went in to negotiate. Modocs wanted their own reservation. They asked for a piece of land valued around 20,000 dollars and were refused. The army would pay a lot more than that by the time this was all done. The stronghold protected the Modoc from artillery shells that the soldiers were firing at them. General Canby’s scalp would end up being flown off the medicine pole at the stronghold. Captain Jack was seen eerily running around in the dead Generals uniform.
Alcatraz: Modoc who were pardoned from the hanging were sent to Alcatraz. In school they taught you that Alcatraz Island was a place for the most dangerous criminals in the west. What they didn’t tell you was that’s where they sent indigenous anti-colonial freedom fighters from the Modoc Wars, Rogue River Wars and others.
Trail Of Broken Treaties: Termination era was the catalyst that set off the old American Indian Movement. Much of it was a mobilization out of necessity. It resulted in a massive march to D.C. The formation of A.I.M lead up to the standoff at Wounded Knee exactly 100 years after the Modoc wars. The u.s has been careful since then not to set off a spark like that. Some have tried such as with the Mashpee Wampanoag but people with more sense have talked them out of it. Durring the trail of broken treaties A.I.M members sometimes walked into stores and took supplies as reparations. They ended up taking over the B.I.A building and rigging the doors so that tipi poles would fall on anyone who opend the doors.
Reference: Where White Men Fear To Tread by Russel Means
Modoc Today: The Modoc became part of the Klamath reservation. Many are intermarried and refer to themselves as Klamath/Modoc. Yahooskin Paiutes lived there too. The Klamath/Modoc reservation was stolen from the people during what became known as termination era in the early 1970s. They still sing that Modoc Sundance song. They live in southern “Oregon” and places like Portland. Another faction of Modoc who were rebellious were sent to Oklahoma. Some Modoc were given a check from the federal government that was tiny. An insult. A man named Edison Chiloquin was the last Modoc to refuse the check and continue to live on the land. Today Modoc are members, supporters, and affiliates of I.S.R. The Pan Indigenous Government. I keep a picture of Edison Chiloquin; it reminds me that there are people with great integrity. Modoc up and join I.S.R!
Message from Loraine Butler: Captain Jack and five other men sentenced to death by hanging on October 3rd 1873 the men whose lives were spared were in prison in Alcatraz a handful of Modoc women men and children held off the US army and Stunned the Whole Nation! They were pulling Troops in nearly a Thousand to Battle anywhere between 50 and 70 Modoc Warriors and Those Warriors held the Military off for nearly a year. The Military would spend millions of dollars to feed and supply the military But the tribe Sought everything for their freedom because that And tribe and every other tribe on Turtle Island deserve to be free. The Captain Jack people fighting for their way of life. John and hooker Jim became famous. It just so happens to be less than two centuries ago. Ben Wright had to come to the west to mine gold he was notoriously ruthless. He killed over 30 men women and children. They didn’t write their own histories they didn’t get to tell their own histories. I feel that these warriors that held off the US military has made an inspiring and Major impact on myself. That is the major reason I am writing this paper to and for the future generations and personal healing for myself to be able to pass this information to the Future generations to come.
Written By: War Chief Mko and Loraine Butler January 2024
Cover drawing by: Artsy Marxist
Illahee Spirit Runners 