The Yakama (formerly spelled Yakima) people have lived in the Columbia River basin since time immemorial. During the winter, they lived in permanent villages built on the valley floor, where the climate was most temperate. Starting in spring, they traveled along the rivers and into the hills to gather food. Some gathered roots and berries, and others fished in rivers, especially the Columbia and the Yakima. In 1855, a confederation of 14 tribal groups signed the Yakama Nation Treaty with the United States and ceded most of their traditional lands, but reserved rights for hunting, gathering, and fishing at all usual and accustomed places. These groups were: Kah-miltpah, Palouse, Klickitat, See-ap-Cat, Klinquit, Sk-in-pah, Li-ay-was, Oche-Chotes, Wenatchapam, Pesquose, Yakama, Shyiks, Know-was-say-ee, and Wish-ham. All 14 groups are now part of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and live on a reservation in central Washington.
On January 29, 1921, seven members of the Yakama nation stopped in Seattle on their way back from Olympia, where they appeared before the Washington State Senate. The 1855 treaty, which guaranteed the right to fish the Yakima River, was threatened by restrictions at the new Prosser Dam in Benton County. This photo shows four members of the delegation, left to right: Chief Lo-páh-hin (Caesar Williams), Yes-to-lah-lemy (Mrs. Kate Williams), Mrs. Homer Watson, and Chief Homer Watson. They wear ceremonial clothing. The beadwork and woven bag are typical of Yakama handicrafts. Chief Lo-páh-hin was a chief from Oregon who joined the delegation; Chief Watson was second in authority among all Yakama groups.
Caption information source: Yakama Nation, retrieved from https://www.yakama.com/about/
