We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Yakima Tribe?

By Bethney Foster
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,969
Share

The Yakima tribe is a group of Native American people who have about 10,000 enrolled members in south central Washington state. More properly known as the Yakama tribe or the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, has a reservation of about 1.2 million acres (485,622 hectares) along the Yakima River. The Yakama Nation is governed by the Yakama Tribal Council, which is made up of 14 tribes and bands.

Many members of the Yakima tribe participate in the fishing of salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon from the Columbia River and its tributaries. This fishing can be ceremonial, subsistence, or commercial, and the right of the Yakima tribe to fish the waters is protected by treaties and various court cases. Two of the best known cases involving the Yakama’s right to fish their traditional waters are United States v. Washington and United States v. Oregon.

The Yakima tribe operates a fisheries program that employees 40 people. The tribe also co-manages several rivers, including the Columbia, Yakima, and Okanogan. The tribe has the Yakama Nation Land Enterprise, Wapato Industrial Park, and Mount Adams Furniture Factory, among other enterprises.

The traditional language of the Yakima tribe is a dialect of Sahaptin. The Yakima call themselves Waptailnsim, which translates to “people of the narrow river.” The name Yakima was likely given to the people by Europeans, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation resolved in 1994 to spell the name of the tribe Yakama.

The people originally lived on both sides of the Columbia River and the northern branches of the Yakima River. Traditionally, members of the Yakima tribe were hunters and gatherers. The tribe met the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805 or 1806. The Walla Walla Council of 1855 and the Yakima War of 1855 led to the tribe being forced onto the reservation.

In traditional Yakama culture, women were responsible for gathering plants and herbs, caring for children, and cooking. Men were responsible for fishing, hunting, and war. Both men and women had roles in storytelling, artwork, and medicine.

The people of the Yakima tribe traditionally lived in earth lodges known as pit houses. These homes had an underground living area with a dome-shaped wooden frame over the pit. The pit houses were about 15 feet (4.5 meters) across, and the homes were entered and exited by a ladder in the center of the roof. A single pit house was home to only one family.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-the-yakima-tribe.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.