The Yakima Nation is a Native American group residing on a 1.37 million acre reservation in Washington state. They were historically hunters and gatherers, and the 1855 Treaty of Yakima forced them to give up 11.5 million acres of land. The Yakima Nation fought in the Yakima War before settling on the reservation, where they suffered from indoctrination and forced labor. They now work towards self-reliance and economic freedom, with a general council governing the tribe and managing fisheries and irrigation projects.
The Yakima Nation, also spelled Yakama, is a group of Native Americans generally found in the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. In modern times, members of the Yakima Nation reside on a 1.37 million acre reservation located on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in south central Washington state. They moved there as a result of a treaty signed by the Yakima Nation and 13 other tribes with Washington Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens in 1855. The individual tribes would organize together to form the confederate tribes of the Yakama Nation in 1933. There are approximately 8,800 members assets of the confederacy and about 13,700 people live on the reservation.
Historically, the Yakima people were a tribe of hunters and gatherers. Most of the tribal economy was generally based on trade in goods, such as horses, dogs, fishery products, and handicrafts, such as basketry. They would typically migrate around the Columbia Basin as the seasons changed to find food. Many Yakima performed rituals that honored the environment. In the early 19th century, Christian missionary Charles Pandosy began introducing the concepts of Christianity to the Yakima.
The 1855 Treaty of Yakima forced the tribes to collectively hand over some 11.5 million acres of land to the federal government, and in exchange, a reservation was established for Native Americans. The treaty gave the tribes two years to leave the ceded territory, but within two weeks, the settlers had moved on, resulting in a confrontation that led to a revolt. For three years, the Yakima Nation fought with federal troops in what became known as the Yakima War.
Afterward, most of the Yakima tribes settled on the reservation and generally suffered from indoctrination, forced labor, and social collapse. Eventually, conditions improved as individual lots were distributed among people and property rights established. Since then, the Yakima nation has worked hard to maintain self-reliance and economic freedom.
A general council is the governing body of the Yakima Nation. Once a Yakima Nation member reaches the age of 18, he or she is enrolled on the board as a voting member. The council typically chairs a standing committee, which presents important issues for a vote, including education, housing, agriculture, and wildlife management.
The Yakima Nation manages eight rivers with Washington state, including the Columbia River. Together, they ensure that the various fisheries are adequately stocked each year to facilitate a thriving fishing economy. Additionally, Yakima generally manages irrigation projects and grazing areas within the Columbia Basin.
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