The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation

As part of the Yakama Treaty of 1855, 14 separate tribes were combined into one nation and became known as Yakamas. Prior to the treaty, the names of their tribes were:

Yakama Kow-was-say-ee Klikatat

Palouse Li-ay-was Ochechotes

Pisquouse Skin-pah Klinquit

Wenatshapam Wish-ham Kah-milt-pay

Shyiks Se-ap-cat

The tribes’ many enterprises provide services to and employ hundreds of Yakamas while utilizing their resources, furthering the economic development of the tribe and their people.

• Air Quality Section
• Department of Natural Resources
• Yakama Nation Emergency Management
• Economic Development
• Natural Resources' Engineering Program Department
• Environmental Management Program
• Forest Development
• Range Program
• Water Code and Water Resource Programs
• Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project

Yakama Nation Land

A 2022 annual report states that in 2020 total tribal economic activity in the state accounted for $5.6 billion gross state product and WA tribes were responsible for 47,500 jobs in the same year, even with the pandemic.

Tribes in the state of Washington are collectively the 7th largest employer.

(Washington Indian Gaming Association, 2022)

The Yakama Nation members live on a reservation of over 1.3 million acres in south central Washington State as well as nearby towns of Toppenish, Wapato, Parker and White Swan. Originally the Yakama Nation lived on over 12 million acres.

Yakama Nation's Enterprises

(Yakama Nation, n.d.)

Language:

Yakama people speak Sahaptin (also referred to as Sahapti or Ichishkíin) but also speak Salish, Chinookan and English. There are 14 different dialects of Ichishkíin but the dialects are mutually understandable by those who speak a different dialect with elders being especially adept at understanding the different dialects.

Cultural Preservation

Final Thoughts

Image References

University of Washington. (n.d.) Ichishkíin Sínwit Yakama/Yakima Sahaptin Dictionary. https://depts.washington.edu/sahaptin

Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. (n.d.). Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. https://critfc.org/member-tribes-overview/the-confederated-tribes-and-bands-of-the-yakama-nation/

Yakama Nation. (n.d.). Ceded Area and Reservation Boundary of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. https://www.yakama.com/about/

Yakama Nation. (n.d.). Logo. https://www.yakama.com/about/

Yakama Nation. (n.d.). Tribal Enterprises of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. https://www.yakama.com/tribal-enterprises/

Yakama Nation Cultural Center. (2023, August 16). No title. [Image attached] [Image update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=774396591359321&set=a.494784135987236

Plateau Peoples’ Web Portal. (n.d.). https://plateauportal.libraries.wsu.edu/

References

Beavert, V., Jacob, M., & Jansen, J. (2020). Anakú Iwachá: Yakama Legends and Stories. Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.

Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. (n.d.). Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. https://critfc.org/member-tribes-overview/the-confederated-tribes-and-bands-of-the-yakama-nation/

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. (n.d.). Yakama Nation Reservation. https://www.minneapolisfed.org/indiancountry/resources/reservation-profiles/yakama-nation-reservation

Heritage University. (n.d.) Heritage University Language Center. https://heritage.edu/our-community/heritage-university-language-center/

Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. (n.d.). Yakama Indian Nation. https://www.npaihb.org/member-tribes/yakama-indian-nation/

Plateau Peoples’ Web Portal. (n.d.). https://plateauportal.libraries.wsu.edu/

Ruby R. H., Brown J. A., Collins C. C. (2010). A Guide to the Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest (3rd ed.). Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.

Seattle Times News Services. (1994, Jan 26). `Yakamas' Alter Spelling of Tribe. Seattle Times. https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19940126&slug=1891713

University of Washington. (n.d.) Ichishkíin Sínwit Yakama/Yakima Sahaptin Dictionary. https://depts.washington.edu/sahaptin

Walsey, V. (2012). Wildlife and ecosystem protection by tribal nations: Using indigenous cultral values and traditional knowledge in management policy (Order No. 1531599) [Master thesis, University of Kansas). ProQuest Dissertation and Theses. https://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/1271758285?accountid=143640

Washington Indian Gaming Association. (2022, May). The Economic & Community Benefits of Tribes in Washington. WIGA The Economic & Community Benefits of Tribes in Washington. https://www.washingtonindiangaming.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/WIGA_EconomicImpact_FullReport-digitalv2.pdf

Yakama Nation. (2021, December 4). https://www.yakama.com/about/

Yakama Nation Language Program. (n.d.) Yakama Ichishkíin Word of the Day [YouTube Channel]. Retrieved September 29, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/@YakamaNationLanguageProgram

Yakama Nation. (2021, December 4). https://www.yakama.com/about/

Yakama Nation Farms. (n.d.). History. https://www.ynfarms.com/pages/history

Yakama Nation Language Program. (n.d.) Yakama Ichishkíin Word of the Day [YouTube Channel]. Retrieved September 29, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/@YakamaNationLanguageProgram

Beyond their enterprises and natural resources, Yakama Nation preserves their culture through the:

• Cultural Resource Program
• Language Program
• Tribal Historic Preservation Office
• Cultural Heritage Center
• Yakama Nation Library
• Yakama Nation Museum

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Yakama Nation

https://www.yakama.com/

Plateau Peoples' Web Portal

https://plateauportal.libraries.wsu.edu/

Sahaptin Dictionary

https://depts.washington.edu/sahaptin/

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation

Sara Schwan Professor Ulia Gosart

Research Project Presentation San Jose State University

INFO281: Indigenous Cultural Institutions and Practices of Librarianship December 2, 2023