A so-called clerical error at the federal level has resulted in over 90,000 acres of land belonging to the Yakama Nation being transferred to the state of Washington, and the tribe is now demanding its return. This situation traces back to 1855, when Yakama Chief Kamiakin was coerced into signing away the lands of 14 tribal nations and bands in the Pacific Northwest—a decision made under the threat of violence against his people. Legend has it that in his anger, he bit through his lip while signing the treaty.
By agreeing to the treaty, Chief Kamiakin ceded more than 10 million acres in what is now Washington state. In exchange, the Yakama Nation was relegated to a reservation that is only one-tenth the size of their original territory, situated roughly 100 miles southeast of Seattle. For nearly 75 years, the treaty map was lost due to a federal clerk’s misfiling under “M” for Montana.
Nestled against the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range, the Yakama reservation covers over a million acres, but not all of it is owned by the tribe. The state of Washington is the largest non-tribal landowner within the reservation, possessing nearly 92,000 acres of state trust land, along with other types of land holdings.
Under the Enabling Act of 1889, the federal government granted parcels of land to states as they transitioned from territories to statehood. These state trust lands are seen as perpetual resources, allowing states to sell or lease them for revenue from activities like grazing and timber harvesting. The proceeds are then utilized to support state institutions, including universities, hospitals, and public schools.
With no official record to challenge them, federal agents further encroached upon Yakama land, redrawing reservation boundaries on new maps. As a result, an estimated 140,000 acres were stripped from the reservation by one agent, while another claimed nearly half a million acres, with various versions of these maps existing.
When the original treaty map was rediscovered in the 1930s, it was too late to rectify the situation. Settlers had already staked claims within the reservation’s boundaries, leaving lasting impacts on the land. Today, non-Native landowners continue to occupy these areas.
The Yakama Nation is determined to reclaim this land. Many tribal members are familiar with the story of Chief Kamiakin and his bloodied lip at the signing of the treaty. Phil Rigdon, a Yakama citizen and respected forester, highlights the importance of this mission as the superintendent of the Yakama Nation Department of Natural Resources. Having worked on land restoration efforts for nearly two decades, Rigdon understands that achieving their goals requires time and the collective efforts of the entire community.