Umatilla (tribe)

Umatilla (tribe)
Group	Umatilla
Popplace	United States (Oregon)
Langs	English, Umatilla language

Umatilla (tribe). The Umatilla are a Sahaptin-speaking Native American tribe whose traditional homeland is centered on the Columbia River Plateau in the Pacific Northwest. Historically a Plateau culture people, they are closely associated with the neighboring Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes, with whom they formed the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in 1855. Their modern governance and cultural revitalization are centered on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in northeastern Oregon.

History

The Umatilla people have inhabited the region around the Umatilla River, the Columbia River, and the Blue Mountains for millennia. Their history was profoundly shaped by the acquisition of the horse in the 18th century, which expanded their range for hunting, trade, and warfare across the Great Basin and onto the Great Plains. Key events in their 19th-century history include contact with the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805 and involvement in the fur trade with the Hudson's Bay Company at posts like Fort Nez Percés. The 1855 Treaty of Walla Walla, negotiated by Isaac I. Stevens, established the Umatilla Indian Reservation and confederated the Umatilla with the Cayuse and Walla Walla. The tribe faced significant pressures from Oregon Trail emigration, the Cayuse War, and subsequent U.S. policies like the Dawes Act.

Culture

Traditional Umatilla culture is characteristic of Plateau peoples, with a subsistence economy based on fishing, particularly for salmon at Celilo Falls, hunting game like elk and deer, and gathering roots such as camas. The Seven Drum religion and the Washat faith are central spiritual practices. Important cultural ceremonies include the First Foods feast and the Root Feast. The tribe is renowned for its beadwork, basketry, and cornhusk bag weaving. The annual Treaty Days celebration and Pendleton Round-Up are significant modern cultural events that honor their heritage. The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton serves as a vital center for preserving and interpreting their history and traditions.

Government

The Umatilla are governed as part of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), a federally recognized tribal government established under the 1855 treaty. The CTUIR operates under a constitution and is led by a nine-member Board of Trustees elected by tribal members. Key governmental branches and entities include the Tribal Court of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the CTUIR Department of Natural Resources, and the CTUIR Fisheries Program. The tribe asserts its sovereignty through law enforcement via the CTUIR Tribal Police, economic development ventures like Wildhorse Resort & Casino, and the management of natural resources, including water rights under the Umatilla Basin Project.

Language

The traditional language of the tribe is Umatilla language, a dialect of the Sahaptin language family, which is part of the larger Plateau Penutian stock. It is closely related to the dialects spoken by the Walla Walla and Yakama. The language experienced severe decline due to assimilation policies of institutions like the Chemawa Indian School. Today, active revitalization efforts are led by the CTUIR Language Program and the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, which offer language classes and immersion programs. The work of linguists like Bruce Rigsby has been instrumental in documentation and preservation.

Notable people

Notable historical and contemporary Umatilla people include Chief Pio-Pio-Mox-Mox (Yellow Bird) of the Walla Walla, who was a signatory to the 1855 treaty. Modern figures include educator and language preservationist Phillip E. Cash Cash and former CTUIR Board of Trustees Chairman Antone Minthorn. Cultural knowledge keepers and artists like Lillian Pitt have gained recognition for their work. Political leaders such as Bobby Brunoe have been influential in tribal governance and natural resource management.

Population

Following the establishment of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the tribal population declined drastically due to disease, conflict, and displacement. The modern enrolled population of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation exceeds 3,000 members, with a significant portion residing on or near the reservation in Umatilla County. The reservation itself spans over 172,000 acres. Demographic trends show a growing, youthful population, and the tribal government actively works to provide services and infrastructure for its citizens through departments like the CTUIR Health and Human Services.

Category:Native American tribes in Oregon Category:Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Category:Plateau tribes