The First Peoples of the Valley

The Walla Walla Valley has been home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. The name "Walla Walla" itself comes from the Sahaptin language, commonly translated as "many waters" — a reference to the rivers and streams that flow through the valley.

Three closely related peoples share deep roots in this landscape: the Walla Walla, the Cayuse, and the Umatilla. Each maintained distinct communities and traditions while sharing cultural ties, trade networks, and the Columbia Plateau homeland.

These peoples lived in balance with the land for thousands of years, developing sophisticated knowledge of the seasons, the salmon runs, the root-gathering grounds, and the game trails that sustained their communities.

The Walla Walla Valley provided abundant resources. The confluence of rivers and creeks created a rich environment for fishing, hunting, and gathering.

Salmon: The Columbia and Snake River systems brought salmon runs that were central to diet, trade, and ceremony. Fishing sites along these rivers were gathering places for communities from across the region.

Root Gathering: Camas, bitterroot, and other roots were staple foods. Women held specialized knowledge of where and when to harvest, and root-gathering grounds were carefully managed across generations.

Horse Culture: After acquiring horses in the early 1700s, the Cayuse in particular became renowned horsemen. The Cayuse Indian Pony — a distinct breed — reflects the depth of their equestrian tradition.

Trade Networks: The valley sat at a crossroads of trade routes connecting the Pacific Coast, the Great Basin, and the northern Plains. This strategic position made the Walla Walla peoples important participants in a vast trade network.

On June 9, 1855, at a council ground near present-day Walla Walla known as Camp Stevens, representatives of the Walla Walla, Cayuse, and Umatilla peoples signed a treaty with the United States government, represented by Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens.

The treaty ceded millions of acres of homeland in exchange for a reserved homeland — the Umatilla Indian Reservation near Pendleton, Oregon — along with promises of payments, services, and the right to continue fishing, hunting, and gathering at "usual and accustomed" places.

The treaty fundamentally altered life for these peoples, confining communities that had ranged across a vast landscape to a fraction of their original homeland. The promises made in the treaty were often delayed or unfulfilled.

It is important to understand that this history is not simply "past." The treaty remains a living legal document, and the rights reserved under it continue to be exercised and defended today.

Today, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) represents the Walla Walla, Cayuse, and Umatilla peoples. CTUIR is a sovereign nation with its own government, managing natural resources, cultural programs, and economic enterprises.

CTUIR has been a leader in salmon restoration, habitat conservation, and cultural preservation. Their work to restore First Foods — salmon, roots, berries, and game — reflects a commitment to both cultural continuity and ecological health.

The tribes' presence in the Walla Walla Valley is not historical — it is ongoing. CTUIR members live throughout the region, and the tribes maintain active relationships with local communities, governments, and land managers.

Visitors who want to learn more are encouraged to visit the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute near Pendleton, Oregon, which tells the story of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla peoples in their own words.