Umatilla First Foods Ceremonies: Nourishing Body, Soul, and Sovereign Future
On the ancient lands stretching across what is now northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington, a profound cultural resurgence is underway. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) are not merely preserving their heritage; they are actively revitalizing it through the potent framework of their First Foods Ceremonies. More than just meals, these seasonal gatherings are vibrant expressions of a worldview rooted in gratitude, reciprocity, and an unbreakable bond with the land. They represent a powerful reclamation of traditional diet, language, and sovereignty, offering a beacon of health and cultural identity for future generations.
For millennia, the Umatilla, Cayuse, and Walla Walla people, whose descendants comprise the CTUIR, lived in an intricate relationship with their environment. Their sustenance was governed by a sophisticated ecological calendar, where the appearance of specific foods marked the passage of seasons and the timing of ceremonial cycles. These "First Foods" – salmon, deer, elk, huckleberries, camas, bitterroot, and water – were not merely resources; they were sacred gifts, imbued with spirit and essential to physical and spiritual well-being. The act of gathering, preparing, and consuming these foods was, and remains, a spiritual practice, a reaffirmation of the Covenant between the people and the Creator.
The First Foods worldview posits that the Creator first provided for the people through these sacred gifts, each promising to sustain them. In return, the people promised to care for the land, the water, and the animals, to respect the gifts, and to honor them through ceremony. This covenant forms the bedrock of their culture, guiding their interactions with the natural world and shaping their communal life. "Our First Foods are our life," explains a tribal elder, a sentiment echoed across generations. "They are our medicine, our history, our language. When we eat them, we are eating our ancestors, our future."
The ceremonies themselves are deeply embedded in the seasonal round. The return of the salmon to the Columbia River system, for instance, initiates one of the most significant First Foods feasts. The Salmon Feast is a deeply moving event, commencing with prayers and offerings of the first catch, acknowledging its sacrifice and thanking the Creator. Songs, dances, and traditional drumming accompany the sharing of the salmon, symbolizing the renewal of life and the continuity of the people. Similar ceremonies follow throughout the year: the Root Feast, celebrating the emergence of camas and bitterroot; the Berry Feast, honoring the abundance of huckleberries; and the Game Feast, giving thanks for deer and elk. Each ceremony is meticulously observed, with specific protocols for preparation, serving, and consumption, all designed to show reverence and gratitude.
These ceremonies are not relics of the past; they are living traditions, meticulously taught and practiced. Children are engaged from a young age, learning the names of plants and animals in their native languages, understanding sustainable harvesting practices, and participating in the preparation of the feasts. This intergenerational transfer of knowledge is crucial, ensuring that the wisdom of the elders is passed down, connecting youth to their heritage and fostering a deep sense of identity and belonging.
However, this rich cultural tapestry faced immense challenges. The arrival of European settlers brought profound disruption. Treaties were broken, lands were seized, and the natural environment was irrevocably altered. The construction of massive dams along the Columbia River decimated salmon runs, a catastrophic blow to the Umatilla people’s primary First Food. Policies of forced assimilation, including the establishment of boarding schools, actively suppressed Indigenous languages, ceremonies, and traditional lifeways, severing many from their cultural roots. The traditional diet, once diverse and nutrient-rich, was replaced by government rations and processed foods, leading to a dramatic rise in diet-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity within Indigenous communities.
The health crisis among Native Americans, with diabetes rates significantly higher than the national average, served as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of this dietary shift. It underscored the urgent need to reclaim traditional food systems not just for cultural preservation, but for physical well-being. This realization fueled the modern revitalization movement within the CTUIR, recognizing that cultural health and physical health are inextricably linked.
The CTUIR has emerged as a national leader in this revitalization effort, strategically integrating First Foods into every aspect of tribal life. Their approach is holistic, encompassing environmental restoration, cultural education, and the promotion of food sovereignty. A key aspect is the aggressive pursuit of environmental justice and the restoration of natural habitats. The CTUIR has been at the forefront of efforts to remove dams, restore fish passages, and protect critical gathering areas. Their fisheries department actively works to restore salmon and lamprey populations, crucial for both ecosystem health and ceremonial practice.
Food sovereignty – the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems – is central to the CTUIR’s strategy. This means not only access to traditional foods but also the ability to cultivate, harvest, and process them in ways that align with cultural values. The Tribe operates its own farms, grows traditional plants like camas, and teaches community members how to prepare them. Initiatives like community gardens and traditional food processing workshops empower tribal members to take control of their diet.
Language revitalization is another critical component. Many First Foods ceremonies incorporate songs and prayers in the Sahaptin language, one of the ancestral languages of the Umatilla people. As fluency waned due to historical suppression, the CTUIR established language immersion programs and cultural camps where youth learn Sahaptin alongside traditional practices, including the names and uses of First Foods. "To speak our language is to speak to our ancestors," says a young language apprentice. "It connects us to the land and to the ceremonies in a way that English cannot."
The impact of these efforts is profound. Participants in the First Foods Ceremonies report a deeper sense of connection to their heritage, enhanced community bonds, and improved mental and physical health. The consumption of traditional foods, low in processed sugars and high in natural nutrients, contributes directly to better health outcomes. Furthermore, the ceremonies serve as powerful platforms for cultural education, reinforcing tribal values and strengthening identity.
The Umatilla First Foods Ceremonies are more than just a testament to survival; they are a vibrant declaration of sovereignty, health, and an enduring connection to the earth. They demonstrate that cultural revitalization is not about returning to a static past, but about adapting ancient wisdom to contemporary challenges. In an era marked by climate change, environmental degradation, and a global health crisis fueled by industrialized food systems, the Umatilla model offers invaluable lessons. It highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge, the power of community, and the profound wisdom embedded in living in respectful harmony with the natural world. By honoring their First Foods, the CTUIR is not only feeding their bodies and souls but also cultivating a sustainable and sovereign future for generations to come.
