Wanapum
The Wanapum are an Indigenous group belonging to the Sahaptin language family, historically inhabiting the northwestern regions of Oregon and southwestern Washington. Their name translates to "river people," reflecting their close relationship with the Columbia River. Estimated to have numbered around eighteen hundred at the time of their first contact with European settlers in the early 1800s, the Wanapum lived in village communities and engaged in a seasonal lifestyle centered on hunting, fishing—particularly for salmon—and gathering natural resources. Unlike many Indigenous groups, they did not develop agricultural practices, instead relying on their skills with horses to assist in their foraging activities.
While there is little recorded conflict between the Wanapum and European settlers, the group faced challenges that led to a significant absorption into the neighboring Palouse community. In contemporary times, a small number of Wanapum descendants reside along the Columbia River, where they focus on preserving their cultural heritage, language, and traditions. However, it is important to note that the Wanapum are not recognized as a federally recognized tribe. Their historical presence is marked by significant cultural contributions, including the creation of petroglyphs on the Wanapum Basalt.
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Wanapum
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Plateau
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Sahaptin
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Washington State
The Wanapum, a branch of the Sahaptian family, lived in northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington. Their name was derived from the Sahaptin language, meaning "river people." They were closely related to the Palouse. As is generally true for the Sahaptin Indigenous groups, there is no ethnographic evidence or traditional lore to show where the Wanapum lived earlier than their first encounter with Whites in the early 1800s. At this time, their population numbered approximately eighteen hundred. Sahaptin nations lived in village communities of varying sizes. Because these Plateau Indigenous Americans relied on hunting, fishing (salmon was a chief staple), and gathering roots and berries, they moved throughout the year to find food in different seasons. This prevented the villages from developing into political or social centers. Sahaptin groups do not seem to have relied at all on agriculture. They were skilled with horses and used them in their search for food. There is no record of any major battles between the Wanapum and White settlers. No official enumerations of Wanapum have been made since the eighteenth century. The Indigenous group was probably largely absorbed by the Palouse. In the twenty-first century, a small group of Wanapum descendants lived along the Columbia River on their ancestral lands, where they actively worked to preserve their culture, religion, language, and traditions. The Wanapum, however, were not a federally-recognized Indigenous nation.
Bibliography
“About Us.” Wanapum Heritage Center, wanapum.org/about. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
“Columbia Gorge Overlook and the Wanapum Indian Tribe.” Washington Our Home, 21 Aug. 2018, washingtonourhome.com/columbia-gorge-overlook-and-the-wanapum-indian-tribe. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
"Sahaptin (Ichishkíin Sɨ́nwit)." Omniglot, 23 Apr. 2021, www.omniglot.com/writing/sahaptin.htm. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
"Wanapum History." Wanapum Scholarship, wanapumscholarship.org/wanapum-history/. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
“Wanapam Indians.” Access Geneology, accessgenealogy.com/washington/wanapam-indians.htm. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
“The Wanapums.” Discover Lewis & Clark, lewis-clark.org/native-nations/sahaptian-peoples/wanapum. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.