Walla Walla – People of Many Waters
The Walla Walla, a name resonating with the essence of their environment, were a Sahaptin-speaking tribe who thrived for centuries on the Columbia River Plateau. Their ancestral lands stretched across the northeastern reaches of Oregon and the southeastern parts of Washington. The name "Walla Walla" itself carries a significant meaning, most frequently interpreted as "many waters," a testament to the abundance of rivers, streams, and waterways that defined their homeland and way of life. While possessing their own distinct dialect, the Walla Walla language shares close ties with that of the Nez Perce, highlighting a shared linguistic heritage and potential historical connections. The tribe wasn’t a monolithic entity but rather comprised various groups and bands, often identified by the names of their respective villages, such as the Wallulapum and Chomnapum, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the Walla Walla people.
The traditional lifestyle of the Walla Walla was that of hunter-gatherers, deeply connected to the rhythms of the natural world. Their dwellings, often referred to as "tents," were designed for ease of movement, reflecting their nomadic existence as they followed seasonal resources. However, these were not the typical hide-covered tipis of other nomadic tribes. Instead, the Walla Walla constructed longhouses, impressive structures that could reach lengths of up to 80 feet. These longhouses were built using lodge poles, similar to the framework of a tipi, but significantly elongated to create a spacious, communal living space. The defining feature of these dwellings was their covering: meticulously crafted mats woven from tule, a versatile plant that grew profusely along the waterways of the region. The tule mats provided insulation and protection from the elements, and were easily transportable. When the tribe moved to new hunting or gathering grounds, the mats were carefully gathered and carried, while the heavier lodge poles were often left behind to be reused later or replaced at the new location. The Walla Walla longhouses, with their distinctive appearance, resembled a modern-day "A" frame house.
The introduction of the horse in the early 18th century brought about a significant transformation in the Walla Walla way of life. They became skilled horsemen, raising large herds that greatly facilitated their ability to gather seasonal plants over a wider territory. Horses also opened new avenues for trade and interaction with other tribes. The Walla Walla embarked on long journeys across the Rocky Mountains, carrying dried roots and salmon to exchange with the Plains Indians for valuable buffalo meat and hides. This exchange not only enriched their diet and provided essential materials but also fostered intertribal relationships and broadened their cultural horizons.
The first documented encounter between the Walla Walla and white travelers occurred during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805. The explorers were met with a warm welcome by Chief Yellepit, whose village, consisting of approximately 15 lodges, was strategically located on the Columbia River near the confluence with the Walla Walla River. Communication between the two groups was facilitated by a Shoshone woman who had been captured by the Walla Walla and Sacagawea, the expedition’s guide and interpreter, who was also of Shoshone descent. Though Yelleppit extended an invitation for the expedition to stay in the village, Lewis and Clark, driven by their mission to reach the Pacific Ocean, declined, promising to return on their journey eastward. True to their word, in April 1806, as the explorers retraced their steps, they spent several days with the Walla Walla, engaging in the exchange of gifts and trade. Among the items left behind by the expedition were a peace medal engraved with a portrait of Thomas Jefferson and a small American flag, symbolizing the nascent relationship between the two cultures. Lewis and Clark estimated the tribe’s population to be around 1,600, but this figure likely encompassed other bands that are now recognized as distinct and independent tribes.
Another significant encounter occurred in 1811 when David Thompson, a trader representing the Canadian-British North West Company, arrived in the region. He planted a pole about five miles upriver from Chief Yellepit’s village, staking a claim to the territory for the British Crown and declaring the North West Company’s intention to establish a trading post. Thompson continued downriver to Yellepit’s village, where he discovered evidence of the American presence in the form of the flag and medal presented by Lewis and Clark. Despite the limited authority of either Lewis and Clark or Thompson to claim the region, Yellepit expressed support for the establishment of a Canadian trading post nearby, recognizing the potential benefits of trade and access to new goods.
The landscape began to shift dramatically in 1855 with the influx of thousands of settlers along the Oregon Trail. The relentless demand for land and resources by the newcomers put immense pressure on the indigenous populations. Isaac Stevens, the governor of the newly established Washington Territory, initiated a campaign to coerce the Walla Walla and other tribes in the area into signing treaties that would cede their ancestral lands and confine them to reservations.
In May and June of 1855, Stevens, along with Joel Palmer, the Superintendent of the Oregon Territory, convened the Walla Walla Council, where they presented three treaties. Through a combination of pressure and coercion, the Walla Walla, Umatilla, and Cayuse tribes were compelled to relinquish their claim to approximately 4,000,000 acres of tribal lands and relocate to a reservation in northeastern Oregon. The reservation, initially intended to be a larger territory, was eventually reduced to a mere 72,000 acres. Similar treaties were also negotiated at the council with the Yakama, Palouse, and other tribes, further diminishing the land base of the indigenous peoples.
The discovery of gold on the recently established Yakama reservation in the same year ignited a conflict between the encroaching white miners and the Plateau tribes. This marked the beginning of the Yakima War, a period of intense conflict and resistance. Initially, the Walla Walla remained on the sidelines, but they were eventually drawn into the conflict, along with the Umatilla and Cayuse, as the tensions escalated and the fight for their land and way of life intensified.
Today, many Walla Walla descendants reside on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The Walla Walla share the land and a unified governmental structure with the Cayuse and Umatilla tribes as part of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). These three distinct bands united under a single tribal government in 1949, adopting a constitution and bylaws to formalize their alliance. As of today, the CTUIR has an enrollment of over 2,800 tribal members. The reservation is located in the vicinity of Pendleton, Oregon, nestled near the picturesque Blue Mountains.
For more information, please contact:
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
46411 Timine Way
Pendleton, Oregon 97801
541-276-3165