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Yakama Nation member Emily Washines looks out over the 430 acres of wetlands. Scientists say restoring water flow is the most imporant part of the project. Washines says water is also important at the beginning of tribal ceremonies, coming full circle.
credit:
Courtney Flatt
Students from the Yakama Nation Tribal School participated in the plant's first major harvest since it began growing in restored wetlands. Tribal members have not seen the plant in 70 years.
credit:
Courtney Flatt
Students and teachers harvested several buckets of wapato. They had to dig in the mud to harvest it. When the wetland waters were high, traditionally women waded in the water and dug with their feet. Members now jokingly call this the "wapato wiggle."
credit:
Courtney Flatt
TOPPENISH, Wash. – For 70 years, wheat fields replaced historical wetland habitat on the Yakama Nation reservation. After a decades-long restoration project, paid for with mitigation funds from the Bonneville Power Administration, the wetlands have sprung back to life. Along with habitat came a sacred First Food: wapato (PDF). This small potato had lain dormant, and now tribal members are relearning (video) how to harvest, store and cook it.
Some worry other First Foods are starting to disappear – along with the traditions they support. Some traditional foods include: huckleberries, chokecherries, salmon, lammush and bitterroot.
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