Sometimes spelled Ko-Kwel, the Coquille traditionally inhabited the Coquille River watershed and coast south of Coos Bay in what is now Oregon.
As signatories to the 1855 Oregon Coast Tribes Treaty, they were moved onto the Siletz Reservation in northwestern Oregon, and most of the descendants of the Coquille are now members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. However, descendants of those who avoided removal and remained in their traditional homeland, along with those who fled the reservation, now make up the Coquille Indian Tribe, a federally recognized tribe of Coquille people.
According to the Coquille Indian Tribe's website, the name comes from a native word for lamprey, a staple in their diet. European settlers approximated the word as KOH-kwel, but it came to be spelled Coquille, the French word for "shell." While the pronunciation of the town and river shifted to koh-KEEL, the tribe's name retained the older pronunciation.
Traditionally, the Coquille people spoke two languages: Miluk, a Coosan language, and Upper Coquille Thabaskan, a dialect of Lower Rogue River. Upon their removal to the Siletz Reservation, Coquille people began communicating in Chinuk Wawa, which was composed of several languages foreign to each other.
The Coquille Indian Tribe has instituted a language revitalization project for both Miluk and Upper Coquille Athabaskan, and the Confederated Tribe of Siletz has a language program focused on Siletz Dee-ni, a loose form of the Oregon Athabascan language.
The Coquille people have occupied the coastal areas of the Coquille watershed for up to eleven thousand years. Fish traps found on the lower Coquille River have been dated back at least a thousand years.
The Coquille collected shellfish and fished the tidewaters and estuaries along the Oregon coast using weirs and basket traps. Some lived in lean-tos made from cedar planks, while others built homes on wood-frame poles, then covered with sod, grass, or reeds.
Today, the Coquille Tribe's reservation area is 6,512 acres and has a resident population of 258 people. Its lands are made up of several non-contiguous parcels in southern Coos County. Portions of Bandon, Barview, Coos Bay, and North Bend are on reservation land.
The tribal government is headquartered in North Bend. The tribe owns and operates The Mill Casino and Hotel, and is planning another casino in Medford.
The focus of this portion of our web guide is on the Coquille people, the Coquille Tribe, or museums, businesses, industries, and other entities affiliated with the tribe or the Coquille people.
Recommended Resources
The Coquille Indian Tribe has inhabited Oregon's southwest coastal area for thousands of years. European disease, gold mining, and European expansion decimated the Coquille population in the 19th century, and the U.S. government terminated its status as a tribe in 1954, but it was restored in 1989. Its history, culture, and heritage are highlighted, and the tribal government, tribal courts, and tribal departments are highlighted, with contacts. Tribal projects and employment are discussed.
https://www.coquilletribe.org/
Serving Coquille tribal families, members of other American Indian and Alaskan Native tribes, Coquille tribal employees, and the general public, as capacity allows, the Wellness Center has locations in Coos Bay and Eugene, Oregon, offering pharmacy services, a clinic in both locations, behavioral health services, and a dental clinic. Family services for tribal families and a patient portal are available, along with a 24-hour nurse line. Administrative and career information are included.
https://kokwelwellness.org/
Owned by the Coquille Tribe, the hotel and casino is located in North Bend, Oregon. Guest accommodations include a 200-room hotel and recreational vehicle park, both of which are featured here, with online bookings, and the casino includes sports betting, slots, table games, a private club membership, and promotional offers. Schedules and highlights of upcoming events and an overview of its dining and bar facilities are included, along with meeting and group spaces.
https://www.themillcasino.com/
Owned by the Coquille Tribe, the AEC, technology, and professional services group is a federally-chartered AEC, communications technology, and professional services group offering architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), technology services, financial and administrative services, and economic development services for the tribe. Its companies, board, management team, and services are acknowledged, career opportunities are posted, and a portfolio of its work is displayed.
https://www.tribal.one/
