The Yakima Treaty, June 9, 1855

Treaty between the United States and the Yakama Nation of Indians. Concluded at Camp Stevens, Walla- Walla 

Valley, June 9, 1855. Ratified by the Senate, March 8, 1859. Proclaimed by the President of the United States, April 

18, 1859.

 

JAMES BUCHANAN,

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO ALL AND SINGULAR TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING: June 9, 1855

 

WHEREAS a treaty was made and concluded at the Treaty Ground Camp Stevens, Walla-Walla 

Valley, on the ninth day of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, between 

Isaac I. Stevens, governor, and superintendent of Indian affairs, for the Territory of Washington, 

on the part of the United States, and the hereinafter named head chief, chiefs, headmen and 

delegates of the Yakama, Palouse, Pisquouse, Wenatshapam, Klikatat, Klinquit, Kow-was-sayee, Li-ay-was, Skin-pah, Wish-ham, Shyiks, Oche-chotes, Kah-milt-pah, and Se-ap-cat, 

confederate tribes and bands of Indians, occupying lands lying in Washington Territory, who, for 

the purposes of this treaty, are to be considered as one nation, under the name of "Yakama," with 

Kamaiakun as its Head Chief, on behalf of and acting, for said bands and tribes, and duly 

authorized thereto by them; which treaty is in the words and figures following, to wit: 

Articles of agreement and convention made and concluded at the treaty ground, Camp Stevens, 

Walla-Walla Valley, this ninth day of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, 

by and between Isaac I. Stevens, governor and superintendent of Indian affairs for the Territory, 

of Washington, on the part of the United States, and the undersigned head chief, chiefs, headmen 

and delegates of the Yakama, Palouse, Pisquouse, Wenatshapam, Klikatat, Klinquit, Kow-wassay-ee, Li-ay-was, Skin-pah, Wish-ham, Shyiks, Oche-chotes, Kah-milt-pah, and Se-ap-cat, 

confederated tribes and bands of Indian, occupying lands hereinafter bounded and described and 

lying, in Washington Territory, who for the purposes of this treaty are to be considered as one 

nation, under the name of "Yakama" with Kamaiakun as its head chief, on behalf of and acting 

for said tribes and bands, and being duly authorized thereto by them. 

ARTICLE 1. The aforesaid confederated tribes and bands of Indians hereby cede, relinquish, 

and convey to the United States all their right, title, and interest in and to the lands and country 

occupied and claimed by them, and bounded and described as follows, to wit: 

Commencing at Mount Ranier, thence northerly along the main ridge of the Cascade Mountains 

to the point where the northern tributaries of Lake Che-lan and the southern tributaries of the 

Methow River have their rise; thence southeasterly on the divide between the waters of Lake 

Che-lan and the Methow River to the Columbia River; thence, crossing the Columbia on a true 

east course, to a point whose longitude is one hundred and nineteen degrees and ten minutes 

(119' 10',) which two latter lines separate the above confederated tribes and bands from the 

Oakinakane tribe of Indians; thence in a true south course to the forty-seventh (47) parallel of 

latitude; thence east on said parallel to the main Palouse River, which two latter lines of 

boundary separate the above confederated tribes and bands from the Spokanes; thence down the 

Palouse River to its junction with the Moh-hah-ne-she, or southern tributary of the same ; thence, 
in a southe[a]sterly direction, to the Snake River, at the mouth of the Tucannon River, 

separating- the above confederated tribes from the Nez Perce tribe of Indians; thence down the 

Snake River to its junction with the Columbia River; thence up the Columbia River to the "White 

banks," below the Priest's rapids; thence westerly to a lake called, "La Lac;" thence southerly to a 

point on the Yakama River called Toh-mah-luke; thence, in a southwesterly direction, to the 

Columbia River, at the western extremity of the "Big Island," between the mouths of the 

Umatilla River and Butler Creek; all which latter boundaries separate the above confederated 

tribes and bands from the Walla-Walla, Cayuse, and Umatilla tribes and bands of Indians; thence 

down the Columbia River to midway between the mouths of White Salmon and Wind Rivers; 

thence along the divide between said rivers to the main ridge of the Cascade Mountains; and 

thence along said ridge to the place of beginning. 

ARTICLE II. There is, however, reserved, from the lands above ceded for the use and 

occupation of the aforesaid confederated tribes and bands of Indians, the tract of land included 

within the following boundaries, to wit: 

Commencing on the Yakama River, at the mouth of the Attah-nam River; thence westerly along 

said Attah-nam River to the forks; thence along the southern tributary to the Cascade Mountains; 

thence southerly along the main ridge of said mountains, passing south and east of Mount 

Adams, to the spur whence flows the waters of the Klickatat and Pisco rivers; thence down said 

spur to the divide between the waters of said rivers; thence along said divide to the divide 

separating the waters of the Satass River from those flowing into the Columbia River; thence 

along said divide to the main Yakama, eight miles below the mouth of the Satass River; and 

thence up the Yakama River to the place of beginning. 

All which tract shall be set apart, and, so far as necessary, surveyed and marked out, for the 

exclusive use and benefit of said confederated tribes and bands of Indians, as an Indian 

reservation; nor shall any white man, excepting those in the employment of the Indian 

Department, be permitted to reside upon the said reservation without permission of the tribe and 

the superintendent and agent. And the said confederated tribes and bands agree to remove to, and 

settle upon, the same, within one year after the ratification of this treaty. In the mean time it shall 

be lawful for them to reside upon any ground not in the actual claim and occupation of citizens 

of the United States; and upon any ground claimed or occupied, if with the permission of the 

owner or claimant. 

Guaranteeing, however, the right to all citizens of the United States, to enter upon and occupy as 

settlers any lands not actually occupied and cultivated by said Indians at this time, and not 

included in the reservation above named. 

And provided, That any substantial improvements heretofore made by any Indian, such as fields 

enclosed and cultivated, and houses erected upon the lands hereby ceded, and which he may be 

compelled to abandon in consequence of this treaty, shall be valued, under the direction of' the 

President of the United States, and payment made therefor in money; or improvements of an 

equal value made for said Indian upon the reservation. And no Indian will be required to 

abandon the improvements aforesaid, now occupied by him, until their value in money, or 

improvements of' an equal value shall be furnished him as aforesaid. 
ARTICLE III. And provided, That, if necessary for the public convenience, roads may be run 

through the said reservation; and on the other hand, the right of way, with free access from the 

same to the nearest public highway, is secured to them; as also the right, in common with 

citizens of the United States, to travel upon all public highways. 

The exclusive right of taking fish in all the streams, where running through or bordering said 

reservation, is further secured to said confederated tribes and bands of Indians, as also the right 

of taking fish at all usual and accustomed places, in common with citizens of the Territory, and 

of erecting temporary buildings for curing them; together with the privilege of hunting, gathering 

roots and berries, and pasturing their horses and cattle upon open and unclaimed land. 

ARTICLE IV. In consideration of the above cession, the United States agree to pay to the said 

confederated tribes and bands of Indians, in addition to the goods and provisions distributed to 

them at the time of signing this treaty, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, in the following 

manner, that is to say: sixty thousand dollars, to be expended under the direction of the President 

of the United States, the first year after the ratification of this treaty, in providing for their 

removal to the reservation, breaking up and fencing, farms, building, houses for them, supplying 

them with provisions and a suitable outfit, and for such other objects as he may deem necessary, 

and the remainder in annuities, as follows: for the first five years after the ratification of the 

treaty, ten thousand dollars each year, commencing September first, 1856; for the next five years, 

eight thousand dollars each year; for the next five years, six thousand dollars per year; and for 

the next five years, four thousand per year. 

All which sums of money shall be applied to the use and benefit of said Indians, under the 

direction of the President of the United States, who may from time to time determine, at his 

discretion, upon what beneficial objects to expend the same for them. And the superintendent of 

Indian affairs, or other proper officer, shall each year inform the President of the wishes of the 

Indians in relation thereto. 

ARTICLE V. The United States further agree to establish at suitable points within said 

reservation, within one year after the ratification hereof, two schools, erecting the necessary 

buildings, keeping them in repair, and providing them with furniture, books, and stationery, one 

of which shall be an agricultural and industrial school, to be located at the agency, and to be free 

to the children of the said confederated tribes and bands of Indians, and to employ one 

superintendent of teaching and two teachers; to build two blacksmiths' shops, to one of which 

shall be attached a tin shop, and to the other a gunsmith's shop; one carpenter's shop, one wagon 

and ploughmaker's shop, and to keep the same in repair and furnished with the necessary tools; 

to employ one superintendent of farming and two farmers, two blacksmiths, one tinner, one 

gunsmith, one carpenter, one wagon and ploughmaker, for the instruction of the Indians in trades 

and to assist them in the same; to erect one saw-mill and one flouring-mill, keeping the same in 

repair and furnished with the necessary tools and fixtures; to erect a hospital, keeping the same in 

repair and provided with the necessary medicines and furniture, and to employ a physician; and 

to erect, keep in repair, and provided with the necessary furniture, the buildings required for the 

accommodation of the said employees. The said buildings and establishments to be maintained 

and kept in repair as aforesaid, and the employees to be kept in service for the period of twenty 

years. 
And in view of the fact that the head chief of the said confederated tribes and bands of Indians is 

expected, and will be called upon, to perform many services of a public character, occupying 

much of his time, the United States further agree to pay to the said confederated tribes and bands 

of Indians five hundred dollars per year, for the term of twenty years after the ratification hereof, 

as a salary for such person as the said confederated tribes and bands of Indians may select to be 

their head chief; to build for him at a suitable point on the reservation a comfortable house and 

properly furnish the same, and to plough and fence ten acres of land. The said salary to be paid 

to, and the said house to be occupied by, such head chief so long as he may continue to hold that 

office. 

And it is distinctly understood and agreed that at the time of the conclusion of this treaty 

Kamaiakun is the duly elected and authorized head chief of the confederated tribes and bands 

aforesaid, styled the Yakama nation, and is recognized as such by them and by the 

commissioners on the part of the United States holding this treaty; and all the expenditures and 

expenses contemplated in this article of this treaty shall be defrayed by the United States, and 

shall not be deducted from the annuities agreed to be paid to said confederated tribes and bands 

of Indians. Nor shall the cost of transporting the goods for the annuity payments be a charge 

upon the annuities, but shall be defrayed by the United States. 

ARTICLE VI. The President may, from time to time, at his discretion, cause the whole or such 

portions of such reservation as he may think proper, to be surveyed into lots, and assign the same 

to such individuals or families of the said confederated tribes and bands of Indians as are willing 

to avail themselves of the privilege, and will locate on the same as a permanent home, on the 

same terms and subject to the same regulations as are provided in the sixth article of the treaty 

with the Omahas, so far as the same may be applicable. 

ARTICLE VII. The annuities of the aforesaid confederated tribes and bands of Indians shall not 

be taken to pay the debts of individuals. 

ARTICLE VIII. The aforesaid confederated tribes and bands of Indians acknowledge their 

dependence upon the government of the United States, and promise to be friendly with all 

citizens thereof, and pledge themselves to commit no depredations upon the property of such 

citizens. 

And should any one or more of them violate this pledge, and the fact be satisfactorily proved 

before the agent, the property taken shall be returned, or in default thereof, or if injured or 

destroyed, compensation may be made by the government out of the annuities. 

Nor will they make war upon any other tribe, except in self-defence, but will submit all matters 

of difference between them and other Indians to the government of the United States or its agent 

for decision, and abide thereby. And if any of the said Indians commit depredations on any other 

Indians within the Territory of Washington or Oregon, the same rule shall prevail as that 

provided in this article in case of' depredations against citizens. And the said confederated tribes 

and band of' Indians agree not to shelter or conceal offenders against the laws of the United 

States, but to deliver them up to the authorities for trial. 
ARTICLE IX. The said confederated tribes and bands of Indians desire to exclude from their 

reservation the use of ardent spirits, and to prevent their people from drinking the same, and, 

therefore, it is provided that any Indian belonging to said confederated tribes and bands of 

Indians, who is guilty of bringing liquor into said reservation, or who drinks liquor, may have his 

or her annuities withheld from him or her for such time as the President may determine. 

ARTICLE X. And provided, That there is also reserved and set apart from the lands ceded by 

this treaty, for the use and benefit of the aforesaid confederated tribes and bands, a tract of land 

not exceeding in quantity one township of six miles square, situated at the forks of the Pisquouse 

or Wenatshapam River, and known as the "Wenatshapam fishery," which said reservation shall 

be surveyed and marked out whenever the president may direct, and be subject to the same 

provisions and restrictions as other Indian reservations. 

ARTICLE XI. This treaty shall be obligatory upon the contracting parties as soon as the same 

shall be ratified by the President and Senate of the United States.