Sinkiuse-Columbia
Encyclopedia
The Sinkiuse-Columbia were a Native American
tribe so-called because of their former prominent association with the Columbia River
. They called themselves .tskowa'xtsEnux, or .skowa'xtsEnEx (meaning has something to do with "main valley"), or Sinkiuse. They applied the name also to other neighboring Interior Salish peoples. The name may have belonged originally to a band which once inhabited the Umatilla Valley.
Other names the Sinkiuse-Columbia Indians were known by included:
The Sinkiuse belonged to the inland division of the Salishan group. Their nearest relatives were the Wenatchi
and Methow. Hale also classified the Sinkiuse as a division of the Pisquows with population 355 in 1905, 299 in 1908, 540 (with others?) in 1990.
Mooney (1928) estimates the Sinkiuse to have numbered 800 in 1780, but they may have been more numerous as Teit (1927) estimated that this tribe and the Pisquow together totaled approximately 10,000 before smallpox reached them.
Subdivisions or Bands (According to Teit, 1930)
The Sinkiuse are now under the jurisdiction of Colville Agency and one band, the Moses-Columbia Band, is in the southern part of Colville Indian Reservation
.
Southern dialect, Columbia-Moses. Other Interior Salish Southern dialects, were spoken by Pisquow, Wenatchi, and Methow.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe so-called because of their former prominent association with the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. They called themselves .tskowa'xtsEnux, or .skowa'xtsEnEx (meaning has something to do with "main valley"), or Sinkiuse. They applied the name also to other neighboring Interior Salish peoples. The name may have belonged originally to a band which once inhabited the Umatilla Valley.
Other names the Sinkiuse-Columbia Indians were known by included:
- Bo'tcaced, by the Nez Percé, probably, meaning "arrows" or "arrow people."
- Papspê'lu, another Nez Perce name, meaning "firs," or "fir-tree people."
- Isle-de-Pierre, name conferred by the French CanadianFrench CanadianFrench Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
employees of the fur companiesFur tradeThe fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
, meaning "rock island", perhaps for a band of the tribe. - Middle Columbia Salish, so called by Teit (1928) and Spier (1930 b).
- Sa'ladebc, probably the SnohomishSnohomishSnohomish can refer to:* Snohomish , a tribe of Native Americans* Snohomish, Washington, a city located in the county of the same name* Snohomish County, Washington* The Snohomish River in Washington...
name. - Suwa'dabc, Snohomish name for all interior Indians, meaning "inland people," or "interior people."
- swa'dab.c, Twana name for all interior Indians, meaning "inland people."
- swa'namc, NooksackNooksack (tribe)The Nooksack are a Native American people in northwestern Washington state in the United States. The tribe lives in the mainland northwest corner of the state near the small town of Deming, Washington , and has over 1,800 enrolled members.In 1971, the tribe was ceded a one acre reservation after...
name for all interior Indians, meaning "inland people." - Ti'attluxa, Wasco Chinook name.
Ethnography
The Sinkiuse lived on the east side of Columbia River from Fort Okanogan to approximately Point Eaton. Later, a reservation was created for them known as Columbia Reservation. In 1870, Winans placed them "on the east and south sides of the Columbia River from the Grand Coulee down to Priest's Rapids."The Sinkiuse belonged to the inland division of the Salishan group. Their nearest relatives were the Wenatchi
Wenatchi
The Wenatchi Tribe is a group of Native Americans who lived in the region near the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers in Eastern Washington State...
and Methow. Hale also classified the Sinkiuse as a division of the Pisquows with population 355 in 1905, 299 in 1908, 540 (with others?) in 1990.
Mooney (1928) estimates the Sinkiuse to have numbered 800 in 1780, but they may have been more numerous as Teit (1927) estimated that this tribe and the Pisquow together totaled approximately 10,000 before smallpox reached them.
Subdivisions or Bands (According to Teit, 1930)
- .nkee'us or .s.nkeie'usox (Umatilla Valley).
- Stata'ketux, around White Bluffs on the Columbia River.
- .tskowa'xtsEnux or .skowa'xtsFnEx, also called Moses-Columbia or Moses Band after the famous Chief MosesChief MosesChief Moses was a Native American chief of the Sinkiuse-Columbia, in what is now Washington State. The territory of his tribe extended approximately from Waterville to White Bluffs, in the Columbia Basin. They were often in the area around Moses Lake...
. - Curtis (1907-9) gives the following: "Near the mouth of the sink of Crab Creek were the Sinkumkunatkuh, and above them the SinkolkolumInuh. Then came in succession the Stapi'sknuh, the Skukulat'kuh, the Skoáhchnuh, the Skihlkintnuh, and, finally, the Skultagchi'mh, a little above the mouth of Wenatchee River."
- Spier (1927) adds that the Sinkowarsin met by Thompson in 1811 might have been a band of this tribe.
The Sinkiuse are now under the jurisdiction of Colville Agency and one band, the Moses-Columbia Band, is in the southern part of Colville Indian Reservation
Colville Indian Reservation
The Colville Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Washington, inhabited and managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which is recognized by the United States of America as an American Indian Tribe...
.
Language
The Sinkiuse-Columbia historically spoke an Interior SalishInterior Salish
The Interior Salish languages are one of the two main subgroups of the Salishan language family, the other being Coast Salish. It can be further subdivided into Northern and Southern Interior Salish...
Southern dialect, Columbia-Moses. Other Interior Salish Southern dialects, were spoken by Pisquow, Wenatchi, and Methow.