Documentary for Native American Modoc War Memorial
Donation protected
This project does not speak for nor represent either the Klamath or Modoc tribes. The purpose of this film is to create space for individuals to speak of their experiences, stories, and what it means to be Modoc. It is about allowing people who previously have not been heard to have a voice. This project does not speak for nor represent all the people, only those who choose to share.
These are stories that should be told and people that should be seen.
Modoc: "Endeavor To Persevere"
Four Native American Modoc warriors were executed in 1873, and currently there is no memorial recognizing their wrongful death and acknowledging the history surrounding the injustice. Christelle Auzas and Donald Dexter are joining forces to create a documentary and a memorial to commemorate and educate on the Modoc War.
I, Don Dexter, am a 7th generation direct descendant of ancestors who were traumatized by the Modoc War. Oftentimes intergenerational trauma is forgotten or misunderstood as events move further into our past. In order to try and begin healing, it's important to understand the original trauma and how it has been carried through generations.
As a Modoc, I do not want the story of my ancestors to be forgotten. This Go Fund Me will support the creation of a memorial to be placed at the gravesite, in the form of a rock from the Modoc ancestral lands, to commemorate the Modoc War and the four warriors who were unjustly executed.
Brief History of the Modoc War
-In 1864 the U.S. government removed the Modoc tribe from their homeland in Northern California and forced them onto the Klamath reservation in southern Oregon. The Modoc tribe and the Klamath tribe had a history of tension.
-While on Klamath land, the Modoc people were harassed and bullied by the Klamath Indians because they were guests on land that they weren’t welcome on and they were denied the fulfillment of treaty obligations by the US government.
-Given this situation, the Modoc people chose to leave. Captain Jack led a band of 160 Modocs back to their ancestral homelands in 1870.
-The war was due to military effort to move the Modoc people back on the Klamath reservation. The Modocs were then charged, tried, convicted, and executed for war crimes. This is the only incident in the history of Indian wars where this has happened.
-On October 3rd, 1873, the four Modoc warriors were hanged in front of their friends and family in Fort Klamath, Oregon.
-The four young, Modoc warriors were Captain Jack, Black Jim, Schonchis, and Boston Charley. Their graves lie hidden in the back of a large field in Fort Klamath, Oregon.
Link to an article called "Remembering the Modoc Warriors"
The graves and worn, weathered wooden markers don’t adequately reflect what happened to these people and the tragedy of it. They appear abandoned with nothing commemorating or documenting their place in history.
A memorial at these gravesites will elevate and teach our history to our descendants and others. With teaching, hopefully will come healing, recovery and peace.
This memorial is gifted to and accepted by the Modoc Nation of Oklahoma and is a gift to all of the Modoc descendants in Oregon and elsewhere.
We can’t return these men to their lands but we can bring some of the land here to them.
The funds from this will be used for two purposes:
1) The creation of the Modoc War memorial at the gravesites in Fort Klamath, Oregon.
2) The production cost of a documentary film of the project, including these costs:
-Interviews with Modoc descendants in Oregon and Oklahoma
-Travel expenses to southern Oregon and Oklahoma
-Equipment expenses for cameras, microphones, etc.
-Copyright, distribution, and marketing expenses
-Pre and post-production expenses
-Location permits
-Other unexpected expenses
We couldn’t be more honored and humbled to promote this project and we are
incredibly grateful for your support.
Please donate whatever you feel called to do. If you aren’t in a position to donate, you can still make a donation by sharing this promotion.
Please share this link directly with your friends and family and on social media, Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/TikTok.
Sepk’eec’a sa’maks – thank you my friends and family in the Modoc way.
These are stories that should be told and people that should be seen.
Modoc: "Endeavor To Persevere"
Four Native American Modoc warriors were executed in 1873, and currently there is no memorial recognizing their wrongful death and acknowledging the history surrounding the injustice. Christelle Auzas and Donald Dexter are joining forces to create a documentary and a memorial to commemorate and educate on the Modoc War.
I, Don Dexter, am a 7th generation direct descendant of ancestors who were traumatized by the Modoc War. Oftentimes intergenerational trauma is forgotten or misunderstood as events move further into our past. In order to try and begin healing, it's important to understand the original trauma and how it has been carried through generations.
As a Modoc, I do not want the story of my ancestors to be forgotten. This Go Fund Me will support the creation of a memorial to be placed at the gravesite, in the form of a rock from the Modoc ancestral lands, to commemorate the Modoc War and the four warriors who were unjustly executed.
Brief History of the Modoc War
-In 1864 the U.S. government removed the Modoc tribe from their homeland in Northern California and forced them onto the Klamath reservation in southern Oregon. The Modoc tribe and the Klamath tribe had a history of tension.
-While on Klamath land, the Modoc people were harassed and bullied by the Klamath Indians because they were guests on land that they weren’t welcome on and they were denied the fulfillment of treaty obligations by the US government.
-Given this situation, the Modoc people chose to leave. Captain Jack led a band of 160 Modocs back to their ancestral homelands in 1870.
-The war was due to military effort to move the Modoc people back on the Klamath reservation. The Modocs were then charged, tried, convicted, and executed for war crimes. This is the only incident in the history of Indian wars where this has happened.
-On October 3rd, 1873, the four Modoc warriors were hanged in front of their friends and family in Fort Klamath, Oregon.
-The four young, Modoc warriors were Captain Jack, Black Jim, Schonchis, and Boston Charley. Their graves lie hidden in the back of a large field in Fort Klamath, Oregon.
Link to an article called "Remembering the Modoc Warriors"
The graves and worn, weathered wooden markers don’t adequately reflect what happened to these people and the tragedy of it. They appear abandoned with nothing commemorating or documenting their place in history.
A memorial at these gravesites will elevate and teach our history to our descendants and others. With teaching, hopefully will come healing, recovery and peace.
This memorial is gifted to and accepted by the Modoc Nation of Oklahoma and is a gift to all of the Modoc descendants in Oregon and elsewhere.
We can’t return these men to their lands but we can bring some of the land here to them.
The funds from this will be used for two purposes:
1) The creation of the Modoc War memorial at the gravesites in Fort Klamath, Oregon.
2) The production cost of a documentary film of the project, including these costs:
-Interviews with Modoc descendants in Oregon and Oklahoma
-Travel expenses to southern Oregon and Oklahoma
-Equipment expenses for cameras, microphones, etc.
-Copyright, distribution, and marketing expenses
-Pre and post-production expenses
-Location permits
-Other unexpected expenses
We couldn’t be more honored and humbled to promote this project and we are
incredibly grateful for your support.
Please donate whatever you feel called to do. If you aren’t in a position to donate, you can still make a donation by sharing this promotion.
Please share this link directly with your friends and family and on social media, Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/TikTok.
Sepk’eec’a sa’maks – thank you my friends and family in the Modoc way.
Fundraising team (2)
Christelle Auzas
Organizer
Eugene, OR
Donald Dexter
Team member
