News — Yakama War
Yakama Elder Breaks Silence on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women are receiving more awareness, more data collection, more mainstream media coverage and some state and federal elected officials calling for solutions to address this issue.
There are elders we look to for their good words and lessons. A Yakama elder breaks her silence on a 1850s historical account and her own personal story of facing predatory behavior.
Phyllis LittleBull is 78-years-old.
Who started the Yakama War?
They say history is told by the survivors. There are tribal survivors of the Yakama War. I am one of the thousands of tribal members that live. This history has been told in the Ichiskiin language and in oral history. I’ve been reading a lot about the Yakama War. There is a lack of voice from Yakamas readily available. Think of the power of Yakama survivors telling this story. We’ll go through the following: The sources Defining “start war” Who started the war? When first approaching this topic some might think, “But why should I believe you?” Others may think,”Why...
They Sang a Warrior Song for Her
Why would elders sing a warrior song for a teenager that was not in the war or military, but had just won a pageant? It is almost 18 years later and I am still fully understanding this experience. The year was 1999. I was 18, and just won a second pageant, Miss National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). This was hosted by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Their homelands are also known as Palm Springs, California. I was supported by my tribe, the Yakama Nation to run for a second title. I am honored that I was able to hold...
The Warrior Tradition with Wiu'xun
What does it mean to be a warrior and what traditions are carried on? For this question, I asked for my dad's help. I grew up hearing him and our family talk about history. Yet, there was something in his background he did not share until later. One day after elementary school, I came home and told my dad all the things I learned about the Vietnam War. I talked non-stop for 10 minutes. My dad simply replied, "I know, I was there." He took his time, but he began to tell us more of his time there....