Swanton, Multnomah, Wapato, Chinook Jargon

[David D. Robertson]

"Multnomah. Significance unknown. Also called:

Wappato, originally the Cree or Chippewa name of a bulbous root (Sagittaria
variabilis) used as food by the Indians of the west and northwest. It means
literally "white fungus." It passed into the Chinook jargon with the
meaning "potato" and became applied to Sauvies Island in Columbia River, at
the mouth of the Willamette, and the Indian tribes living on or near it. It
was so used by Lewis and Clark, though there was little or no political
connection between the numerous bands so designated.

   Connections.   The Multnomah belonged to the Clackamas division of the
Chinookan linguistic stock.

   Location.   As above indicated, on and near Sauvies Island.

Subdivisions or Bands

   Cathlacomatup, on the south side of Sauvies Island on a slough of
Willamette River.
   Cathlacumup on the west bank of the lower mouth of the Willamette River
and claiming as their territory the bank of the Columbia from there to Deer
Island.
   Cathlanaquiah, on the southwest side of Sauvies Island.
   Clahnaquah, on Sauvies Island.
   Claninnata, on the southwest side of Sauvies Island.
   Kathlaminimin, at the south end of Sauvies Island, later said to have
become associated with the Cathlacumup and Nemoit.
   Multnomah, on the upper end of Sauvies Island.
   Nechacokee, on the south bank of Columbia River a few miles below
   Quicksand (Sandy) River.
   Nemalquinner, at the falls of the Willamette but with a temporary house
on the north end of Sauvies Island.
   Shoto, on the north side of Columbia River, a short distance from it and
nearly opposite the mouth of the Willamette.

   Population.   Mooney (1928) gives the population of all of these bands
of the Multnomah as 3,600 in 1780. Their descendants are probably included
among the 315 Indians returned as Chinook by the census of 1910. (See
Clackamas.)

   Connection in which they have become noted.   There is a county, town,
and river channel of the name in Oregon. The name "Wappato" secondarily
applied to the Multnomah besides its former use as a name of Sauvies
Island, is given, with the spelling Sapato, to a lake and place near
Portland in Oregon    the latter in Multnomah County, the former between
Yamhill and Washington Counties   and to a place in the State of
Washington."