The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs came together last week for five days of celebration marking the 171st anniversary of the Treaty of 1855 — the agreement signed on June 25, 1855, that established the Warm Springs Reservation and formalized the relationship between the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute Tribes and the U.S. government.

From June 23–28, the reservation hosted the annual Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Day celebration, featuring a rodeo, barbecue, vendors, and three days of powwow competitions that drew competitors and visitors from across the region.

Pi-Ume-Sha: "Celebration"

Pi-Ume-Sha — which translates to "celebration" in the Sahaptin language — centered on traditional dance and regalia competitions open to participants ranging from "tiny tots" age 6 and under through men and women 60 and older. Winners received cash prizes, but tribal leaders emphasized the deeper meaning of the gathering.

"It takes a lot of work, but it's well worth it when you see all the smiling faces," said Sharon Katchia, secretary of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs confederation. "One of the things our grandparents taught us growing up is, you know, take care of one another."

Katchia noted that weeks of organizational work go into the event, and that the celebration serves as a moment of genuine pride and togetherness for tribal members — many of whom travel from far away to return to the reservation for Pi-Ume-Sha.

A Powerful Reminder

The winner of the men's 60-and-older dance gave a speech that captured the spirit of the gathering: the day isn't about prizes, he said — it's about being together, protecting tribal culture, and honoring the treaty that made it all possible.

The Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute peoples have lived in and stewarded the lands of what is now Jefferson County and the surrounding region since time immemorial. The treaty, while negotiated under fraught historical conditions, established the legal foundation for the reservation and enshrined certain rights — including fishing, hunting, and gathering — that the Tribes continue to exercise and defend today.

Pi-Ume-Sha also featured a marketplace with handmade jewelry, clothing, and food vendors. The smells of frybread, curly fries, and fresh lemonade filled the powwow grounds as spectators watched the competitions from bleachers and lawn chairs, celebrating together under the high desert sky.