Cow Creek Tribe Remembers Two Men Who Helped Shape Its Future

The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is honoring two longtime advocates whose work helped restore its federal recognition, strengthen its government, and recover ancestral lands.

Former Tribal attorney Dennis J. Whittlesey passed away Sept. 10, and Tribal historian Dr. Stephen Dow Beckham passed away Oct. 10. In a tribute published Oct. 22, Tribal CEO Michael Rondeau remembered their decades of service and the lasting effects of their work.

“The two of them together made a formidable team,” Tribal Elder Mary Howren said. “One without the other, and we wouldn’t be here.”

Dennis J. Whittlesey

Whittlesey began representing the Cow Creek Umpqua in Washington, D.C., in the late 1970s, joining Tribal leaders in their pursuit of recognition and resolution of longstanding treaty land claims.

He helped advance legislation enacted in 1980 that allowed the Tribe to bring those claims against the federal government. He also worked on the federal recognition bill introduced by Oregon Congressman Jim Weaver in June 1982. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law that December.

Whittlesey continued representing the Tribe after recognition, helping rebuild its government and develop its first gaming compact with Oregon. Those efforts helped establish economic opportunities that would support Tribal members and surrounding communities.

His ties to Oregon also included service on Lewis & Clark Law School’s Board of Visitors.

Dr. Stephen Dow Beckham

For nearly 50 years, Beckham helped the Cow Creek Umpqua document its history and ancestral connections. His research into Tribal history and genealogy supplied evidence that supported the effort to restore federal recognition.

The Tribe credited his historical expertise with helping advance several milestones, including its 1980 Court of Claims case, recognition in 1982, the Judgment Fund Act of 1987, and the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act of 2018. The 2018 legislation restored approximately 17,000 acres of ancestral territory.

Beckham also served as a founding board member of the Umpqua Indian Development Corporation, the Tribe’s business arm. He frequently spoke at Tribal General Council meetings and prepared research, position papers, and letters supporting Tribal interests.

In remembering both men, Rondeau emphasized their willingness to continue working even when payment was uncertain. The Tribe extended condolences to their families and credited their service with helping secure opportunities for generations of Cow Creek Umpqua citizens.

Source: Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.