Yakama Women at the Longhouse: Huli-Carried Medicine and Traditional First Food Ceremonies
Hailey Allen
Volume 26, Number 1 (2026) 26 (1): 149–169
Keywords Indigenous epistemologies, Yakama, relationality, traditional ecological knowledge, Indigenous women
Abstract
This paper examines Indigenous epistemologies grounded in relationality, lived knowledge, and spiritual connections to land within Yakama communities. Building on prior research, it explores Yakama women’s traditional ecological knowledge through elder interviews and participation in Longhouse (Washat) and First Foods practices. These traditions reflect a worldview that honors natural elements as living forces and emphasizes women’s roles in stewardship and knowledge transmission. Focusing on berry-picking practices and the Huckleberry Feast, this study highlights how women sustain and adapt cultural traditions. The findings underscore the resilience of Indigenous knowledge systems and their importance in maintaining reciprocal relationships with land and
community.
Hailey Allen
Published June 5, 2026
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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