Takelma Roasting Co. Whole Bean Xem Raven French Roast, Bold and Intense Flavor, Dark Chocolate Notes, 100% Arabica Beans, For Espresso and Drip

The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, one of the nine federally recognized Native American Tribes in the State of Oregon, represents the historical diversity of the Tribal people and the languages they spoke. Residing in the forests and rugged mountains of the Umpqua and Rogue River Valleys in Southern Oregon, the Cow Creek people spoke Takelma, their ancestral language. However, the arrival of fur trappers, miners, gold rushers, and missionaries in the 19th century nearly eradicated the Takelma language.

At that time, the U.S. Government removed the Cow Creek people from their homelands in the Umpqua and Rogue River Valleys. While a few Cow Creeks managed to hide in the mountains, many were forced to assimilate, blending into pioneer culture and speaking English. As a result, the Cow Creek people gradually stopped using Takelma as their primary language, and without fluent speakers, many of the words were lost. The last fluent speaker of Takelma passed away nearly a century ago.

Despite this, within the Tribe's families, words and phrases were passed down, keeping the language alive and waiting to be revived. Today, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is making strong efforts to speak Takelma and preserve the language. By using documentation and limited recordings of Takelma, the Tribe is once again learning and teaching others to speak the language. The Takelma language is being reclaimed, with more Tribal citizens speaking it every day.

As a simple example of this reclamation, here is a blessing spoken in Takelma. This prayer is a blessing for the land and the people, including those listening now:

Haaphk'emnà'sThkáa yap'á taayúsaa'si taphoyòth. Altíi taphoyòth. Tuuwuù'kh

The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians represents the resilience and determination of the Tribal people in Oregon to preserve their cultural heritage and linguistic identity. Despite the challenges they faced, the Tribe is actively working to revive the Takelma language, ensuring that this important part of their ancestral legacy endures.

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