The preponderance of evidence from the historical record shows that self-determining Métis peoples helped to shape the economic, social, cultural and political life of the whole of the Pacific Northwest, prior to any declaration of authority or control by the British Crown or the American government.
In this 1915 account the author describes "old Oregon" in 1836 as over 700,000 square miles from the Arctic ocean to the 42nd parallel (current day Southern Oregon).
"In this vast territory there was not to exceed 25 Americans, and probably not more than fifty persons of the white race, including all nationalities. The territory was dominated largely by the Hudson's Bay Company,...and employed in the operation of their business some twelve hundred Canadian, French half-breeds and Indians. They maintained twenty three forts, five trading stations, several large farms and a small fleet on the Pacific Ocean"