Last Updated on February 11, 2012 by Dennis
Tillamook Indians (Chinook; ‘people of Nekelim,’ or Nehalem. Boas). A large and prominent Salish tribe on Tillamook Bay and the rivers flowing into in, in north west Oregon. According to Boas the culture of the Tillamook seems to have differed considerably form that of the north coast Salish, and has evidently been influenced by the culture of the tribes of North California. According to Lewis and Clark they occupied 8 villages of which these explorers name 5; Chishuck, Chucktin, Kilerhurst, Kilherner and Towerquotton. The same authorities place the Tillamook population at 2,200. In the reports of the Wilkes Exploring Expedition (1845) their number is given as 400, and by Lane in 1849 as 200.