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ADVOCACY

TREATY OF 1855

June 9, 1855. | 12 Stat., 951. | Ratified Mar.8,1859. Proclaimed Apr. 18, 1859.

Articles of agreement and convention made and concluded at the treaty-ground, vens, 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 chiefs, chiefs, headmen, and delegates of the Yakama, Palouse, Pisquouse, Wenatshapam, Klikatat, Klinquit, Kowwas-say-ee, Li-ay-was, Skin-pah, Wish-ham. Shyiks, Ochechotes, Kah milt-pah, and Se-ap-cat, confederated tribes and bands of Indians, occupying lands hereinafter bounded and described and lying in Washington Territory, who for the confederated tribes and bands of Indians, occupying lands hereinafter bounded and described and lying in Washington Territory, who for the acting for said tribes and bands, and being duly authorized thereto by them.

READ ENTIRE YAKAMA NATION TREATY OF 1855

TREATY OF 1855

June 9, 1855. | 12 Stat., 951. | Ratified Mar.8,1859. Proclaimed Apr. 18, 1859.

Articles of agreement and convention made and concluded at the treaty-ground, vens, 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 chiefs, chiefs, headmen, and delegates of the Yakama, Palouse, Pisquouse, Wenatshapam, Klikatat, Klinquit, Kowwas-say-ee, Li-ay-was, Skin-pah, Wish-ham. Shyiks, Ochechotes, Kah milt-pah, and Se-ap-cat, confederated tribes and bands of Indians, occupying lands hereinafter bounded and described and lying in Washington Territory, who for the confederated tribes and bands of Indians, occupying lands hereinafter bounded and described and lying in Washington Territory, who for the acting for said tribes and bands, and being duly authorized thereto by them.

READ ENTIRE YAKAMA NATION TREATY OF 1855

Securing the rights of the Yakama Nation

COURT RULINGS

1855
Following the passage of the Indian Appropriations Act of 1851, Native Americans are forced off of their ancestral land and onto reservations. The Yakama secure for their Tribe the rights to harvest and trade the resources of the land, specifically to fish, hunt, and travel freely and in all customary places in exchange for surrendering over 10 million acres of what is now Washington and Oregon states. (Treaty with the Yakama Nation, 1855)
1886
Legal jurisdiction over Tribal Members on Tribal land is vested in the US government, and not in the state(s) within which the reservation may lie. (United States v. Kagama)
1919
The rights guaranteed in the Treaty of 1855 are extended beyond the previous boundaries that it explicitly carved out, and the Yakama are given freedom to fish from the opposite side of the river that borders their territory. (Seufert Brothers Co. v. United States)
1979
Counteracting the devastating effects of modern commercial fishing upon the livelihood and survival of the tribe, fair shares of the runs of their traditional staple fish are guaranteed to the Yakama, reaffirming the Supreme Court's practice of interpreting treaty language as it was intended to be by the Native American leaders who first understood it. (Washington v. Fishing Vessel Assoc.)
2019
The Yakama score a major victory when, in Washington State Dept. of Licensing v. Cougar Den, their right to transport their goods across state lines and between reservations - the freedom to travel and to trade as fully intended by their ancestors - was preserved.
1871
The 1871 Indian Appropriations Act ends the practice of making treaties with Native Tribes, deeming them no longer to be independent nations, but instead "wards" of the United States. It did not, however, invalidate any treaties previously entered into with the various American Indian Tribes.
1905
The Supreme Court prohibits an overly strict and literal interpretation of the terms of Native American treaties, ruling instead that the government must follow a practice of construing meaning as the Tribal leaders did at the time of the negotiations. (United States v. Winans)
1942
The Yakama's right to fishing on ancestral lands and in their customary places is defended as a Washington state tax and a trespassing charge are both invalidated as they are found to be in conflict with the 1855 Treaty in their impositioning of this right. (Tulee v. Washington)
1995
While allowing that a state may assess income tax upon a Tribal member who lives in-state and off-reservation, the Supreme Court also held that a state may not assess fuel taxes on motor fuel sold by a Tribe on Tribal land. (Oklahoma Tax Commission v. Chickasaw Nation)

COURT RULINGS

Securing the rights of the Yakama Nation

1855
Following the passage of the Indian Appropriations Act of 1851, Native Americans are forced off of their ancestral land and onto reservations. The Yakama secure for their Tribe the rights to harvest and trade the resources of the land, specifically to fish, hunt, and travel freely and in all customary places in exchange for surrendering over 10 million acres of what is now Washington and Oregon states. (Treaty with the Yakama Nation, 1855)
1871
The 1871 Indian Appropriations Act ends the practice of making treaties with Native Tribes, deeming them no longer to be independent nations, but instead "wards" of the United States. It did not, however, invalidate any treaties previously entered into with the various American Indian Tribes.
1886
Legal jurisdiction over Tribal Members on Tribal land is vested in the US government, and not in the state(s) within which the reservation may lie. (United States v. Kagama)
1905
The Supreme Court prohibits an overly strict and literal interpretation of the terms of Native American treaties, ruling instead that the government must follow a practice of construing meaning as the Tribal leaders did at the time of the negotiations. (United States v. Winans)
1919
The rights guaranteed in the Treaty of 1855 are extended beyond the previous boundaries that it explicitly carved out, and the Yakama are given freedom to fish from the opposite side of the river that borders their territory. (Seufert Brothers Co. v. United States)
1942
The Yakama's right to fishing on ancestral lands and in their customary places is defended as a Washington state tax and a trespassing charge are both invalidated as they are found to be in conflict with the 1855 Treaty in their impositioning of this right. (Tulee v. Washington)
1979
Counteracting the devastating effects of modern commercial fishing upon the livelihood and survival of the tribe, fair shares of the runs of their traditional staple fish are guaranteed to the Yakama, reaffirming the Supreme Court's practice of interpreting treaty language as it was intended to be by the Native American leaders who first understood it. (Washington v. Fishing Vessel Assoc.)
1995
While allowing that a state may assess income tax upon a Tribal member who lives in-state and off-reservation, the Supreme Court also held that a state may not assess fuel taxes on motor fuel sold by a Tribe on Tribal land. (Oklahoma Tax Commission v. Chickasaw Nation)
2019
The Yakama score a major victory when, in Washington State Dept. of Licensing v. Cougar Den, their right to transport their goods across state lines and between reservations - the freedom to travel and to trade as fully intended by their ancestors - was preserved.

LEGAL TEAM

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Keyes Legal

Fennemore Craig P.C

For those who came before us, for our fellow Native Americans and their communities, and for our generations yet to come, First American dedicates itself to honoring the history and culture of our heritage by standing in defense of, and exercising the rights and freedoms guaranteed to us by our ancestors when they signed the Treaty of the Yakama Nation, 1855. We are proud to be joined in this struggle for justice and equality by some of the nation’s most prestigious legal firms; together, we honor the past by securing our future.

LEGAL TEAM

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Keyes Legal

Fennemore Craig P.C

For those who came before us, for our fellow Native Americans and their communities, and for our generations yet to come, First American dedicates itself to honoring the history and culture of our heritage by standing in defense of, and exercising the rights and freedoms guaranteed to us by our ancestors when they signed the Treaty of the Yakama Nation, 1855. We are proud to be joined in this struggle for justice and equality by some of the nation’s most prestigious legal firms; together, we honor the past by securing our future.

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ABOUT US

First American Petroleum, A Yakama Nation Corporation, is the largest Native American owned Wholesale Fuel Provider to Tribal Lands in the country. We are proud to be a Native company, Indians helping Indians. This is our word. From us to you, Naye.

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  • 509.314.6083
  • 509.314.6085
  • Info@Firstamericanltd.com
  • 61 West Wapato Road
    Wapato, WA 98951

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