UPDATE Treaty Days parade kicks off celebration

  TOPPENISH, Wash. -- Local residents and members of the Yakama Nation lined the streets of downtown Toppenish for the annual Treaty Day parade.

  This morning’s parade including the powwow and salmon bake tonight are among the events on tap this weekend commemorating the 1855 Yakama Treaty.

  Events began with a flag raising and parade at the tribe’s headquarters at 410 Fort Road in Toppenish.

  About 18 miles to the west in White Swan, dancers will take the floor during a three-day powwow that begins this evening.

  During the summer of 1855, tribal leaders ceded more than 10 million acres of their original lands to the federal government — much of it in the state of Washington — when they signed the treaty.

In return, the tribe retained its traditional hunting, fishing and food gathering rights in those lands and agreed to move to a 1.2-million-acre reservation that stretches from Mount Adams to the Yakima River.

  Tribal members gather traditional foods for feasts during sacred ceremonies, which are held throughout each year.

- Phil Ferolito

Tonight
• Treaty Day Powwow, 7 p.m. grand entry, White Swan Pavilion off of Mission Road, White Swan.
Saturday
• Treaty Days Powwow, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. grand entries.