Description
The Wanapum tribe of Native Americans formerly lived along the Columbia River from above Priest Rapids down to the mouth of the Snake River in what is now the US state of Washington. About 60 Wanapum still live near the present day site of Priest Rapids Dam. The name "Wanapum" is from the Sahaptin wánapam, meaning "river people", from wána, "river", and -pam, "people". In prehistoric times, the tribe's territory was (and still is) an excellent salmon-fishing area.
Language
Sahaptin
Culture
The tribe made houses from tule and cut over 300 petroglyphs into the basalt cliffs. In 1805, according to the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Wanapum, led by their chief Cutssahnem, greeted the expedition and treated its members well, sharing food and entertainment. In the 1800s, a new Native religion, called Washane, Washani or "Dreamer Religion", was created by a spiritual leader of the Wanapum named Smohalla. Whether due to this religion or for other reasons, the tribe never fought white settlers, did not sign a treaty with them, and as a result retained no federally recognized land rights.