The Yakima Valley is located at the foot of Mt. Rainier and near to the Cascade Mountains in Washington State, United States. This region serves as the traditional hunting,
fishing, and agricultural grounds for the Yakama tribe. The rights of the Indigenous
Peoples to continue fishing and hunting in this area are included in the Yakama Nation
Treaty, signed on 9 June 1855. Today this land is considered ceded but this is disputed by some.1
The first foreign exploration of this region began in 1805 by Lewis and Clarke, and it was reported in the early 1800s that approximately there
were 3,000 inhabitants in the Yakima Valley. In 1847, the first Catholic mission was established in the valley.2 In 1884, the Northern Pacific Railroad was extended into the Yakima Valley; however, due
to the inhabitants refusal to make certain concessions for the railroad, it was re-routed. The new route was placed approximately six kilometers
north of the original Yakima City. The new route of the railroad began the construction
of the second Yakima City that exists today, and the movement of buildings such as
the courthouse, banks, and general store.3
Today, the Yakima Valley is remembered by a museum and heritage site, which depicts
and tells the stories of the people living on the plateau. The Yakama Nation Museum
is recognized as one of the finest Native American Museums in the United States.4