Yakama Nation Tribal Council

Yakama Nation Tribal Council
Name	Yakama Nation Tribal Council
Formation	0 1944
Type	Tribal council
Headquarters	Toppenish, Washington
Membership	14 elected representatives
Language	English, Ichishkíin Sínwit
Website	https://www.yakama.com

Yakama Nation Tribal Council. The Yakama Nation Tribal Council is the governing body of the Yakama Nation, a federally recognized tribe located in central Washington. Established under the Yakama Nation Constitution ratified in 1944, the council serves as the central legislative and executive authority for the tribe, which comprises descendants of 14 distinct bands and tribes that signed the Treaty of 1855 with the United States. The council operates from the tribal headquarters in Toppenish, Washington, and is responsible for upholding tribal sovereignty, managing a vast reservation, and protecting treaty-reserved rights to resources like salmon and huckleberry.

History

The modern Tribal Council was formally established with the adoption of the Yakama Nation Constitution on April 9, 1944, under the auspices of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This constitutional government succeeded earlier, less formal governing structures that persisted after the signing of the pivotal Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Council. That treaty, negotiated between United States officials including Isaac Stevens and leaders such as Kamiakin and Owhi, created the Yakama Indian Reservation and confederated the signatory bands. The council's creation marked a significant step in the tribe's political evolution following periods of conflict like the Yakima War and the challenges of the Allotment era.

Structure and governance

The council consists of 14 elected representatives, a structure that honors the 14 bands and tribes that are party to the Treaty of 1855, including the Yakama, Palus, Wenatchi, and Klickitat people. Members are elected to staggered terms by the general membership of the Yakama Nation. Leadership includes a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary, who are selected by the council members from within their ranks. The council operates alongside a separate Yakama Nation Tribal Court system, which includes a Supreme Court, establishing a separation of powers. Key administrative functions are carried out by departments such as the Yakama Nation Fisheries and the Yakama Nation Wildlife program.

Powers and responsibilities

The council holds broad legislative, executive, and fiscal authority over the Yakama Nation's reservation lands and its members. Its paramount duties include protecting and enforcing the tribe's treaty-reserved rights, particularly those related to fishing, hunting, and gathering in all "usual and accustomed" places as defined in the Treaty of 1855. The council enacts codes and ordinances, manages natural resources through agencies like Yakama Nation Forestry, oversees economic enterprises such as the Legends Casino Hotel, and administers extensive social services, healthcare through the Yakama Indian Health Service, and education programs.

Current leadership

As of the most recent elections, the council is led by Chairman Gerald Lewis, with Philmon D. I. George serving as Vice-Chairman. The full council of 14 members represents the diverse communities and districts across the reservation, including areas like White Swan, Wapato, and Harrah. Elections are conducted according to the Yakama Nation Constitution, and council members serve as the primary liaisons between the tribal government, the enrolled citizenry, and external governments.

Notable actions and initiatives

The council has been instrumental in landmark legal and environmental actions to defend tribal sovereignty. A historic achievement was the 1968 initiation of the legal battle that led to the United States v. Washington (1974) decision, also known as the Boldt Decision, which reaffirmed tribal treaty fishing rights. The council actively manages and restores critical habitat, notably through the acquisition and restoration of the Toppenish Creek watershed. It has also taken strong stances against environmental threats, such as opposing the transport of radioactive waste through treaty territories and challenging projects like the Goldendale Energy Storage Project for its potential cultural and ecological impacts.

Relationship with federal and state governments

The council's government-to-government relationships are defined by the Treaty of 1855, which establishes the Yakama Nation as a sovereign nation. This relationship is primarily with the United States Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The council frequently negotiates and, when necessary, litigates with the State of Washington and agencies like the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife over co-management of resources. It is also an active participant in regional bodies like the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, working alongside the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Nez Perce Tribe.

Category:Native American tribal governments Category:Yakama Nation Category:Indigenous politics in the United States