They became a non-federally recognized tribe, not only losing fishing and hunting rights, but were removed from their homelands to an environment that is far from their original home and way of life. The result was disastrous to the Wenatchi Tribe. The Fight to Regain Landĭuring this time, the railroad was being built in the Pacific Northwest, and the government officials were far more invested in this project. The government failed to uphold two treaties with the P’Squosa primarily for monetary benefits. The treaty promising the P’Squosa their own reservation, was never an actual proposal the government intended to follow through with. The Yakama proceeded to sign the treaty, giving them continued fishing and hunting rights. While Chief Harmelt was away, the government officials met with the Yakama Tribe and proceeded to mislead the Yakama by lying and saying that the Wenatchi Tribe already agreed and signed the treaty. However, when Wenatchi Chief Harmelt met with government officials to discuss the treaty, he requested the government wait while he went back to the tribe to discuss further with the tribe. government proposed a treaty to the P’Squosa that would give the tribe a 36-square-mile reservation at the confluence of the Icicle and Wenatchee rivers and guarantee their hunting and gathering rights in an area called the Wenatchapam Fishery. Many tribes would gather during the summer months along the Icicle River to fish salmon, and these waters were once described as flowing red when the salmon were plentiful.Ī few major turning points for the P’Squosa occurred during the 18 treaty agreements between several tribes and the government. The P’Squosa would travel along the Icicle, Wenatchee and Columbia rivers throughout the year fishing, hunting and harvesting berries. The P’Squosa was given the name Wenatchi by the Yakama tribe, and our current towns, cities and rivers are phonetically named after the original stewards of these lands. The land that is currently referred to as Wenatchee, Cashmere, Monitor, Dryden, Leavenworth, Lake Wenatchee, and beyond were once destined to be the Wenatchi Reservation. The P’Squosa have been here for thousands of years, before there was a written language and an official name given to us. We are a part of the land and the land is a part of us. Yes, we are still alive and there are still members that live on their homelands. I have been asked many times if there are any Wenatchi Tribal members still alive, which is a difficult question to hear. Native American history is difficult to hear or understand as the culture has been romanticized for many years. Growing up in the valley, I realized that true Native American history is not taught in grade schools, which seems odd as the town we live in is named after the Wenatchi. I wanted to create a community founded on education while proudly representing my culture. As we navigated launching our second business, I knew that it had to be more than just purchasing an item.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |