301 - Oklahoma State University - Library

12 Ind. C?. Comm. 301
Dr. Gibbs reported that the Yakimas occupied the country drained by
the Yakima River and were divided into two principal bands, each made up
of a number of villages and very closely connected. One principel band
owned the country on the Nachess and lower Yakima rivers while the others
were on the Wenass River and main branch above the fork. Kamaiakan and
his brother, Skloo and Sha-wa-wai were the chiefs of the first band while
Te-eh-yas and Ow-hai were the chiefs of the second branch. Kamaiakan
possessed the greatest influence and none of the other chiefs undertook
any matter of importance without first consulting him. The Yakimas had
gardens which were situated in the little valleys running up toward the
mountains and were fenced around to exclude animals. They occupied the1
"3
--.. .- -3 country around the northern or main branch of the Yakima River, operated
fisheries at the Dalles, and also had fisheries in the Yakima River. On ,
the main fork the Indians lived as far as Lake Kitchelus.
Gibbs reported meeting Wee-ni-nah, a sub-chief living at the village
of Skin opposite the mouth of the Des Chutes River. His party then
passed the mountains between the Yakima country and the Pisquouse. He
identified the Pisquouse as a tribe of Salish or Flathead Nation. The
country of the Pisquouse, lying immediately north of that of the Yalcimas,
included the Indians on the Columbia between Priest's and Ross Rapids,
on the Pisquouse or .Wicatshapam River, the En-te-at-kwu, Chelan Lake and
Methow or Barrier River. However, he noted that the name of Pisquouse
properly referred to a single locality on the river known to the Yakimas
5 as Winatshapam. He found that the Pisquouse themselves had so much
inkermarried with the Yakimas they had almost lost their nationality.