Yakama Nation



To get started in American Indian Research

Various Spellings: Yakama, Yakima

The Yakama (Yakima) Tribe is located in central Washington along the Columbia River. In 1994, the Yakama Nation adopted the spelling of its name as "Yakama," which they feel is the more correct historical spelling of their name.

Tribal Headquarters
Yakima Indian Nation 2808 Main St Union Gap, WA 98903

1-509-452-2502‎

The Yakama Nation Maine Agency Offices 401 Fort Road PO Box 151 Toppenish, WA 98948

1-509-865-5121

Yakama Nation

Brief Timeline

 * 1805: First contact with Europeans -- the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
 * 1835: Oregon Trail
 * 1840's Lieutenant Chalres Wilkes, sent by U.S. government to explore the Pacific Coast.
 * 1946: the 49th Parallel divided the Oregon Territory between the United States and Canada
 * 1855:Treaty with the U.S. government
 * 1855-56: Yakama War
 * 1855: Reservation established

Additional References to the History of the Tribe
Frederick Webb Hodge, in his Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, gave a more complete history of the Yakima tribe, with estimations of the population of the tribe at various time periods. Additional details are given in John Swanton's The Indian Tribes of North America.

For additional history of the tribe, read more....

Reservations
A trac of land set aside for occupation and use by American Indians.

Superintendencies
The Washington and Oregon Superintendencies had jurisdiction over the tribe.

Census
Before the 1870 census Yakima tribe members may be found in Walla Walla County, WA dispersed among the general population.

In 1870 census search Yakima County.

1880 Search (M1791, 5 rolls.) Schedules of a Special Census of Indians, 1880. The Yakima Agency is divided into five districts, which appear on roll 3. FHL Film:

1885-1940 Search (M595) Indian Census Rolls. (692 rolls) Yakima Indians are located on rolls 672-679. FHLFilm:

(Source of above: NARA# 1004)

Treaties

 * 1855 June 9, at Camp Stevens

Yakima Agency
The agency representing the Yakama Indians for the Bureau of Indian Affairs is the Yakima Agency. It is located at Toppenish, Washington. For additional history of this agency and an indication of the location of its records, click here.

Yakama Indian Nation -- BIA Agency 401 Fort Rd Toppenish, WA 98948 1-509-865-2255‎

Important Web Sites

 * Yakama Tribe Wikipedia