Yakama facts for kids
Yakama warrior ca. 1913,
photographed by Lucullus V. McWhorter |
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 10,851 (2000 Census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
United States ( Washington) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Ichishkíin Sínwit | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Indian religions | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Klickitat |
The Yakama are an important Native American tribe living mainly in eastern Washington state. There are about 10,851 members in the tribe.
Today, the Yakama people are part of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Their home is the Yakama Indian Reservation, which stretches along the Yakima River. This reservation is very large, covering about 1.2 million acres (5,260 km2). The tribe is led by the Yakama Tribal Council, made up of members from 14 different tribes.
The Yakama have special rights to fish in their traditional lands. These rights are protected by old agreements called treaties. Court decisions in the late 1900s, like the Boldt Decision in 1974, confirmed these rights. Sadly, some rivers became polluted over time. Now, projects like the Columbia Basin Initiative are working to make the rivers clean again for salmon fishing.
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What Does "Yakama" Mean?
The name "Yakama" has a few possible meanings. Some experts believe it comes from Sahaptin words like E-yak-ma, meaning "a growing family." Another idea is iyakima, which means "pregnant ones."
Other scholars suggest the name might come from yákama, meaning "black bear," or ya-ki-ná, meaning "runaway." The Yakama people also call themselves the Mamachatpam. They were sometimes known as "people of the narrow river" or "people of the gap," because of where they lived along the Yakima River.
Yakama Lands and Groups
The term "Yakama" originally referred to several regional groups who spoke the same Sahaptin language. These groups often named themselves after important places, like rock formations or fishing spots.
The Yakama people lived in a wide area, mostly east of the Cascade Range. Their lands included the Yakima River watershed and stretched south to the Columbia River. They also lived near the Snake River and up to the Wenatchee River in the northeast.
Here are some of the main Yakama groups:
- Lower Yakama (also called Yakama proper): These were the people of Chief Kamiakin. They lived along the Lower Yakima River, from areas near today's Yakima down to Prosser. Many smaller groups lived in this region, often named after local creeks and rivers.
- Upper Yakama or Kittitas: These were the people of Chief Owhi and Chief Qualchan. Their lands were north of the Lower Yakama, along the Upper Yakima River. The name Kittitas might refer to the area's soil. They lived near rivers like the Cle Elum River and several large lakes in the Cascade Mountains.
- Klickitat: These were Chief Slockish's people. They lived north of the Columbia River, near the headwaters of several rivers like the Cowlitz and Klickitat. Their name means "Prairie People."
- Cowlitz Klickitat (also called Lewis River Klickitat Band): These people were closely related to the Yakama. They lived in the Upper Cowlitz and Lewis River basins, west of the Cascades. Their name, Taitnapam, means "People of the Tieton River," suggesting they originally came from east of the mountains.
- Wanapum (meaning "River People"): They lived along the Columbia River, south of the Saddle Mountains. A very important fishing spot for them was at Priest Rapids. In 1953, the building of the Priest Rapids Dam and Wanapum Dam flooded many of their traditional living and fishing areas. Today, about 60 Wanapum still live near the Priest Rapids Dams.
- Mishalpam (also known as Meshal Band of Nisqually): These were Chief Leschi's people. They lived on the west side of the Cascade Range, near the Mashel River and the Upper Nisqually River and Puyallup River valleys, reaching up to Mount Rainier. They had strong ties with the Klickitat.
A Look at Yakama History
The Yakama people have a history similar to other native groups of the Columbia River Plateau. They were skilled hunters and gatherers. They were especially known for trading salmon caught during the yearly salmon runs in the Columbia River. In 1805 or 1806, they met the Lewis and Clark Expedition where the Yakima River meets the Columbia River.
After the Walla Walla Council and the Yakima War in 1855, the tribe signed a treaty. This treaty meant they had to give up much of their land and move to their current reservation. The 1855 treaty recognized 14 different tribes and groups as part of the Yakama Nation. The name of the tribe was officially changed from Yakima to Yakama in 1994 to match how the native people say it.
Their Language Today
The Yakama language is a dialect of Sahaptin. Sahaptin is part of the larger Sahaptian language family. Since the late 1900s, many native speakers prefer to use the traditional Yakama name for their language, Ichishkíin Sínwit. The tribal Cultural Resources program is working to use this name instead of Sahaptin, which means "stranger in the land."
Famous Yakama Individuals
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- Ella Aquino
- Colestah
- Bunky Echo–Hawk
- Chief Kamiakin
- Lavina Washines
- William Yallup
- Russell Jim (Dr. Kiaux) Yakama Environmental Leader (1935-2018)
See also
In Spanish: Yakama para niños
