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.

This image taken by a Yakima-area photographer, shows a Yakama man identified as Captain Billy and a woman whose name is unknown, possibly his wife. Captain Billy wears animal skin decorations in his hair, and the woman carries a cornhusk bag on her horse's saddle. Both horses wear feathers on their bridles. Writing on the image describes the woman as a "squaw." This word is a sexist and racist slur used to refer to Indigenous North American women.

Caption on image: "Captain Billy and [derogatory term removed]."

Caption information source: Yakama Nation, retrieved from https://www.yakama.com/about/