hu, ku ch-n’ułkhw.
The ancestral territory includes almost 5,000,000 acres of what is now north Idaho, eastern Washington and western Montana. Coeur d’Alene Indian villages were numerous and permanent, each village and the people there had a distinct name in the ancestral language. Collectively, members today call themselves, "Schitsu'umsh," meaning "Those Who Are Found Here."
to Coeur d'Alene welcome
Coeur d'Alene tribal path
We are the Natítayt (The People). We exercise our national sovereignty and preserve our cultural lifeways. We live in balance with the land as dictated by our traditional teachings. We acknowledge the wisdom of our elders and spiritual leaders. We are accountable to the Creator. As long as the earth shall last, there will be life. Our life is the land. We are the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla.
to Umatilla welcome
Umatilla tribal path
Yakamas have lived in Central and South Central Washington since time imemorial. They are one segment of several tribes comprising the Plateau culture of Native Americans in the Northwestern United States. Yakamas continue spiritual practices like the sweat house cleansing in preparation for traditional life way activities like medicine food gathering and participating in seasonal first-food feasts of thanks and respect to other beings with whom we share Mother Earth. Yakamas continuously strive to keep these life-way laws handed down from the Creator.
to Yakama welcome
Yakama tribal path
Header photo used with permission from David Burton.