The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-06-08
CHIEFS OF THE YAKIMA'S.
They Talk at the Annual "SapalVest"
and Invoke Aid Of "Nemepeap."
Their Speeches Interpreted Fer sThe
Herald'' by Charley Ike who
Was Educated In the
Public schools.

The annual "Sapalweet" Of Yakima
Indians was held Sunday, May 81, one
mile below Union Gap. A large number
of whites were present from North Yaki-
ma and vicinity. Promptly at 2 .. m.
the Indians, about two hundred in num-
bers arranged themselves Ia q circle
around the interior of q large wigwam,
which had been erected for this occasion
and at a given signal all stood and COM
menced an invocation to the "Nemepeap"
Deity to preserve them from hardship
and evil doing the coming year, which
lasted half an hour and concluded with a
song, inviting all present to come and
psrtake OF the good things placed before
them then followed a ringing OF bells
and beating Of drums Simplifying that
when death overlook the body the "Nem-
epeap' would call the spirit Of the faith
ful to the Happy Hunting grounds in like
manner. Taltzatan then addressed the
braves as follows: my brothers this is
the Tooth anniversary Of our Great Spirit
can we say to him we have done no
wrong, we have told the truth, il 30, we
should all be happy here to-day. This
Great Spirit made all this land, then he
made our bodies to live on this land.
He wants us to stay here and has left
plenty of food for our sustenance. He
wants us to raise children and increase
in numbers, and il We do all we are
taught to do we shall not be forgotten
when We die. Is this not so? What
have you all to say? What answer will
you maker" Immediately all with one
accord answered yes, yes, then all sat
down to enjoy the iToqustit) repast.
During the progress Of the meal seven
Indian women Of the tribe stood with
folded arms, and invoked the "Nem-
epeap" too look kindly on them and keep
from them all wicked spirits and to send
an abundance Of fish and food OF every
kind during the coming year.
The meal finished, the chief Shaw wa
wa kootiacan said; II am the great man
Of these people and you the chief of all the
white people in Washington are my best
friend. My father and my mother made
here home for me. They taught me
how to talk and all know. What they
taught me | will never forget. These two
persons tiny father and mother) are now
in the Happy Hunting grounds and still
do not forget what they told me and I
know they keep all bad trouble from me.
You must all remember what you are
taught and not be bad"
Shaw-wa.wa Kootiacan is a young man
twenty years Of age and succeeded his
father RS chief Of the Yakima's in his
nineteenth year. He is we'll liked by the
Indians and looked up to as a most
promising chief.
"Wawalex Umtuch" second chief will
succeed Shaw-wa-wa Kootiacan at his
death. Wawalex Umtuch has past the
meridian of life and is very digniied, re-
alizing fully his position. He is men,
Der OF the council OF his tribe and the ad
wiser and right hand man Of the chief.
He spoke to these present as follows:
"You my white friends call the spirit our
Father, we call him our Brother. Our
Brother first made the world, then no
made man and woman, we are the
children of these two persons. He also
made law which We must follow. We
are people made by him and we must
obey his law. He also made fish (what
We call salmen) for our use. Then he put
deer on the mountains and among the
trees. He left all these things for our
use. See how our brother worked for us.
He also left spirit in our bodies. He
put the fish ia the waters and now zee
how they have increased. He made q
great big sun and it lights all this world
and shines on all our people. Our Brother
told our father shall give day called
Sunday and on that day you shall work
for the spirit left in your bodies. Now
you see us to-day We are following the
will OF Our Brother and are doing for the
spirit. We are following what was taught
the first man and woman. II We don't
follow the law, after awhile the sun and
the spirit and our bodies shall be de-
stroyed. That's my opinion and what |
teach. The Klickitat tribe follow the
white ways and are against what ne are
doing. We only ask the Great Spirit,
Our Brother to send US plenty that We
may have to eat, drink and live. What
has always been ours should still be and
not taken from u.s."
This was interpreted by Charley Ike
specIal interpreter appointed BY Kootiacan