FOUR
DIRECTIONS INSTITUTE
Wanapum |
Ethnie: | WANAPUM (WANAPAM) |
Language: | Nez Perce |
Family: | Shahaptin |
Stock: | Plateau Penutian |
Phylum: | Penutian |
Macro-Culture: | Northwestern Plateau |
|
The Wanapam were semi-sedentary hunter/gatherer tribes closely connected to the Palouse. They lived about the bend in the Columbia River between Priest Rapids at a point below the mouth of the Umatilla, and extended east of the Columbia north of Pasco. |
They traded with the first Whites but ultimately were considered to be renegades and had conflicts with a the later settlers. They suffered huge losses to disease. They have refused to live a reservation life. |
Aboriginal Locations (Subdivisions) |
WA (2) |
|
Year | History |
1760 | Smallpox epidemic |
1781 | Smallpox epidemic |
1805 | Lewis and Clark passed through territory, aided by Nez Perce |
1809 | David Thompson established Kullyspell House trading post on Lake Pend d'Orielle |
1810 | David Thompson established Spokane House |
1811 | David Thompson explored the length of the Columbia River |
1841 | Influx of Oregon Trail settlers began, conflicts followed |
1847 | Measles epidemic |
1855 | Major Heller and 100 men routed in with a joint force of Yakimas, Columbias, Wanapams, Wallwallas, Palouse, and Spokanes ... "Toppenish Fight"; Yakima Treaty, tribe included in treaty but refused to recognize the document |
1980 | Reduced to four families |
Year | Population | Source |
1700 | 1,800 | NAHDB calculation |
1780 | 1,800 | Mooney estimate |
1800 | 1,800 | NAHDB calculation |
1900 | 200 | NAHDB calculation |
1980 | 40 | Four surviving families |
1997 | 60 | Carlotta Collette |
2000 | 50 | NAHDB calculation |
Other speakers of the same language: |
Nez Perce, Palouse |
Last updated 03/07/05 Copyright © 2005 by Four Directions Press