This excerpt states that local Chiefs gave "half-breeds" special treatment with regards to gold mining on their lands while placing extra restrictions on the local Oregonians. Despite the current trend of "Métis denialism", 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.