Chelan people facts for kids
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| United States (Washington) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Salishan, Interior Salish | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Colville, Nespelem, Sanpoil, Sinixt, Palus, Wenatchi, Entiat, Methow, Southern Okanagan (Sinkaietk), Sinkiuse-Columbia, and the Nez Perce of Chief Joseph's band |
The Chelan (say "sha-lan") are a group of Native American people. They are part of the Interior Salish family. They speak a dialect similar to the Wenatchi tribe, but they are a separate group. Their name, "Tsi-Laan," comes from the Wenatchi language and means "deep water."
Historically, the Chelan people lived near Lake Chelan in Washington State. They often spent their winters at the lake's outlet. It is believed that the Chelan tribe originally separated from the Wenatchi tribe a long time ago.
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The Chelan Homeland: Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan is a very long and deep lake. It stretches about 51.5 miles (83 km) and is between 0.75 to 2.1 miles (1.2 to 3.4 km) wide. It is the third-deepest freshwater lake in the United States. It's also the ninth-deepest in the world, reaching a depth of 1,486 feet (453 meters). Streams from the Cascade Range feed the lake. The lake's water then flows into the Columbia River through the Chelan River.
Life by the Lake
The Chelan people were skilled at fishing. During the salmon runs, they fished where the lake met the river. They also traveled to the Wenatshapam Fishery on the Columbia River. There, they would fish and trade with other tribes.
The Chelan tribe had several permanent villages in the lower Chelan valley. One large village at Willow Point, near Manson, could hold up to 500 people. Another village on Wapato Point was home to about 100 people. Many groups lived in areas like Field's Point, First Creek, Watson's Resort, and Minneapolis Beach.
The Chelan people were always on the move with the seasons. They traveled in and out of the mountains. They gathered plants, fished in small streams, and hunted animals.
Travel and Trade Routes
Lake Chelan was like a watery highway for the Chelan people. It made it easy to travel from the Columbia River deep into the Cascade Mountains. Sometimes, they would canoe to the head of the lake. From there, they knew a route that followed a swift stream between high peaks. This path allowed them to visit or trade with relatives on the coast.
They would cross mountains with glaciers and cliffs. Then, they would go down through tall forests to the land of the Skagit tribes. The Chelan people often traded mountain goat wool. In return, they received dried clams, salmon, or seashells. They used these seashells for future trading or for making beautiful decorations.
Friends and Foes
The Chelan people had traditional allies, or friends. These included the Wenatchi, Sinkiuse-Columbia, and Entiat tribes, who were like family to them.
Their traditional enemies were groups like the Shoshone, the Kwalhioqua (also known as Willapa), and the Blackfoot Confederacy. Sometimes, the Nez Perce were enemies, but at other times, they were allies.
Tribal boundaries in the Plateau Region often changed. Tribes competed for the best hunting grounds. After horses arrived, Plateau tribes faced more competition. This came from the Plains Indians and tribes from the Great Basin. Over time, fighting between tribes decreased. Many tribes formed alliances to face common challenges together.
By the 1860s, widespread illnesses greatly reduced the population. This led to a decline in tribal warfare. From the 1840s onward, the U.S. government tried to move all Native American tribes to reservations. This period saw many conflicts as the government expanded its control.
The Chelan Today
The Chelan Indian tribe is part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. This group is officially recognized by the U.S. government as an American Indian Tribe. The reservation is located in eastern Washington state.
The Confederated Tribes include over 9,000 descendants from 12 different Native American tribes. Besides the Chelan, these tribes are the Colville, the Nespelem, the Sanpoil, the Sinixt (also called Arrow Lakes people), the Palus, the Wenatchi, the Entiat, the Methow, the Southern Okanagan (Sinkaietk), the Sinkiuse-Columbia (also known as Moses-Columbia), the Nez Perce of Chief Joseph's band, and the Wapato's.
Today, the Chelan people speak English. Their traditional language is a Salishan language. This language has several different dialects spoken among the various tribes in the confederation.
