Confederation of tribes and groups of the nation Yakama, or simply Yakama (officially since 1994, also historically Yakima) is tribal group of Indians from Plateau. Sahaptin people who live along the banks of rivers Colombia, Wenatchee and Yakima in eastern Washington. Their numbers at the beginning of the 21st century is about 10,000 people. The territory of reservation Yakama along the Yakima River covers an area of about 5260 km ². Currently, the nation is headed by the Tribal Council of Yakama, composed of representatives of 14 tribes.
The Yakima originally lived in huts covered with mats, and homes-pits, but later began to use the tipis. Most Indians of Yakama tribe are engaged in fishing on the Columbia River and its tributaries - both for sale and ritual purposes. Among the fishes that they get predominate salmon, rainbow trout and sturgeon. The right to fish is protected by treaties and was re-confirmed in the course of such litigation, as "United States v. State of Washington" ("Boldt decision") and "United States v. Oregon" ("Souheppi against Smith"). Reservation is actively engaged in the business (agriculture, fisheries, irrigation, forestry, the production of furniture, banks), in a reservation is opened the large cultural center.
History. By way of life the Yakama were largely similar to the other tribes of the Columbia River Plateau. The peoples of Plateau lived in large families who migrated in the summer and combined with each other in the permanent winter villages. All life subordinated to a seasonal cycle of collecting edible roots (mainly Camas) and berries in the summer, salmon fishing in the spring and harvesting in large quantities for the winter, and hunting for deer and other animals. The peoples of the northern part of Plateau prepared food in special pits 0.8-1 meter deep, where firstly made a fire, and allowed to extinguish, and then by the layers folded stones, branches, food, and covered it with leaves and earth, adding a little water to the food to steam it.
In the mid-18th century, Yakama received horses and their way of life has changed dramatically. They began to make forays into the plains, hunting buffalo and fighting with the local tribes. From the peaceful deer hunters, fishers and gatherers they have turned into buffalo hunters and warriors. At the same time in the region began epidemic, significantly reducing the number of tribes. Some of the southern tribes of the region were engaged in farming and reached sufficient success in this.
But in the mid-19th century American settlers appeared in the region and began cession, the formation of reservations and attacks on settlers. According to the agreement in 1855, the Yakima and thirteen other tribes had to move to the reservation Yakima under the control of Kamaiakana leader. According to this agreement, in Yakima Reservation had to move fourteen tribes: klickitat, klinkuit, kovasei, kahmiltpah, lievas, ochechotes, palouse, piskuos, skinpah, veapkat, shayiks, venitchi, wishram and the yakima. All these are close in culture to Sahaptin tribes which formed a current confederation of tribes and bands of Yakima Indian Nation. But instead of moving started the war, which, however, delayed relocation of Yakima in the reservation for only four years - until 1859. By the end of the 19th century, all wars were suppressed, and the lands of the reservations began to rapidly ruin because of the outbreak of gold rush and frauds of authorities. Since the mid-20th century some tribes (on the territory of the U.S.) managed to get a part of the land and receive a small compensation for their loss. The common name of the tribe "Yakima" was officially changed in 1994.
Language of Yakama represents the north-western dialect of the Sahaptian language of the Plateau Penutian family. Since the late 20th century, some native speakers have argued to use the traditional Yakama name for this language «Ichishkíin Sínwit». Currently, among the members of the tribe attempts are made to revive it, while the tribal council does not recommend using the term "Sahaptin", which literally means "stranger in (our) land."
U.S. policy towards the indigenous population of the continent is perhaps the most shameful part of American history. In North America, the indigenous inhabitants have become strangers in their own home after the arrival of European colonialists. They still make up 1.6% of the total population of the lands once belonged. In the U.S., there are 550 Indian tribes, including 223 settlements in Alaska (Aleuts and Eskimos). U.S. government accepts and supports their sovereignty and right to self-government and self-determination. Officially recognized tribes living on reservations are sovereign nations, Yakama is among them. They have the right to establish their own government, their laws, their taxes, licensing and regulation of any activity. Federal laws and laws established by the tribe act in reservations. Inhabitants of the reservations have much lower educational attainment than their compatriots living outside their national territory. Not everywhere in the United States Indian settlements are called as Indian reservations. However, the place where Yakama lives is called Yakama Indian Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land.
Works Cited
Dale D. Goble, Paul W Hirt. Northwest Lands, Northwest Peoples: Readings in Environmental History. 1999
Barry Pritzker. Native America Today: A Guide to Community Politics and Culture. 1999
