The Yakama: People Of The River
People Of The Pacific Northwest
The Yakama are a Native American tribe that lives in the Pacific Northwest. The Yakama’s traditional territories are in eastern Washington state.
It is here, amid the rolling hills and rivers of the Columbia River plateau, that the Yakama have lived, fished, and developed their culture for thousands of years.
Name With Significance
The name “Yakama” means “a growing family” or “the pregnant ones” in the Yakama’s language, Sahaptin. Another Indigenous-derived name is “Waptailnsim”, or “people of the narrow river”. When we look at the history and culture of the Yakama, it’s not hard to see why they acquired these names.
The Yakama Language
"Sahaptin" is the standard name of the common language spoken by all the Indigenous peoples of eastern Washington, Idaho, and northern Oregon.
However, Yakama language experts point out that Sahaptin is itself a Salish word, and the Yakama word for their own language is "Ichishkin Sinwit", or “this language”.
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Federal Government Status
The Yakama people are a federally recognized tribe, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Their mandated territory encompasses 1.2 million acres of the territory of the Yakima River in their traditional territory.
Yakama Food
The center of the Yakama diet was salmon. The people traditionally caught fish from the rivers using nets, spears, and traps. Deer, elk, and smaller game like rabbits were also a popular target for Yakama hunters.
The people were also active gathering berries, roots, and nuts to supplement food supplies.
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