Where was the Wenatchi Reservation Supposed to be?

In 1855, the Wenatchis were promised a reservation, as well as hunting, gathering and fishing rights at the Wenatchapam Fishery. In 1894 a United States survey improperly located the reservation. A cession of the reservation from the Yakama Nation was requested and in an agreement ratified by Congress, the Wenatchis were promised fishing rights and land where they lived near the Wenatchapam Fishery.

But where was the Wenatchi Reservation? The original Wenatchi treaty provision was never honored after a fraudulent survey placed the Reservation far from where it should be.

The following narrative describes the "changing location" of the Reservation since 1855. See map for details.

In 1855, a treaty promised the thirty-six square mile Reservation at the juncture of the Wentachee River and Icicle Creek. The boundaries were marked out in 1856, but the United States failed to survey the area, which left the Wenatchi land open to white settlement.

In 1885, still without a reservation, many Wenatchis filed for Indian Homesteads for the sites where they were living.

In 1888, a survey of the reservation was finally requested and in 1890 Chief Harmelt asked what had become of the reserve.

In 1892, a survey was finally ordered. It was begun in 1893, only to be interrupted by an improper order to "relocate" the Reservation high in the mountains. The survey was eventually rejected as not accurately representing the Reservation, but the information didn't reach the U.S. Congress.

In 1894, the Wenatchis were promised allotments of land and continuing fishing rights.

The United States failed to provide the Wenatchis with the land they had been promised, and failed to honor the Wenatchis' fishing rights. As a result, the Wenatchis had to leave their land, and most moved to the Colville Indian Reservation, where the Tribe now lives.

In 1937, Chief Harmelt died, but his granddaughter and her children have taken up the fight along with other tribal elders.

See the History-Chronology for details.