🐟 Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla

Who Are the Confederated Tribes?

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) includes three distinct peoples: the Umatilla, Cayuse, and Walla Walla, with approximately 3,100 enrolled members headquartered in Pendleton, Oregon. The Umatilla speak a Sahaptin language; the Walla Walla also spoke Sahaptin; while the Cayuse originally spoke a language isolate (now extinct) but adopted Sahaptin. These three nations, each with distinct histories, were confederated under the 1855 Treaty of Walla Walla. The reservation's 172,000 acres in northeastern Oregon supports agricultural and gaming enterprises.

The Cayuse and the Whitman Incident

The Cayuse became infamous after the 1847 Whitman Massacre—when Cayuse warriors killed missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and others at their mission. The killings followed a measles epidemic that devastated Cayuse communities while largely sparing white settlers; Cayuse tradition held that failed healers should be killed. The incident triggered the Cayuse War (1847-1850) and accelerated American military presence in the Oregon Territory. Five Cayuse were eventually hanged. This single incident shaped American perceptions of all Columbia Plateau peoples for generations, demonstrating how isolated events become defining narratives.

Salmon and Treaty Rights

The 1855 treaty reserved fishing rights at "usual and accustomed stations"—rights that remain legally enforceable today. Columbia River salmon were central to all three tribes' economies, spirituality, and identity. The construction of dams—particularly Bonneville (1938) and The Dalles (1957)—destroyed traditional fishing sites including Celilo Falls, the greatest indigenous fishery in North America. Treaty rights litigation has established tribal co-management of salmon resources. CTUIR operates fish hatcheries and participates in salmon recovery efforts across the Columbia Basin.

Contemporary CTUIR

Modern CTUIR has built significant economic capacity. Wildhorse Resort & Casino near Pendleton generates revenue for tribal programs. The tribes operate grain storage, a truck stop, and other enterprises. The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute preserves and interprets the history of all three tribes. Language preservation faces challenges—Cayuse is extinct; Sahaptin (Umatilla-Walla Walla dialect) has few speakers; programs work to train new speakers. Environmental programs focus on salmon restoration and water quality. How CTUIR maintains three distinct identities within one confederation while building modern economic and political capacity shapes this unique tribal structure's future.

References

• Stern, T. (1998). "Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla" (Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 12)
• Hunn, E. S. (1990). Nch'i-Wána, "The Big River": Mid-Columbia Indians and Their Land
• Fisher, A. H. (2010). Shadow Tribe: The Making of Columbia River Indian Identity