What is palouse tribe?

The Palouse tribe is a Native American tribe that traditionally inhabited the region of Palouse in what is now eastern Washington state in the United States. The Palouse people were primarily hunters and gatherers, who lived in small, semi-permanent villages along the Palouse River and adjacent areas.

The Palouse people were organized into small bands, with a headman or chief leading each band. They mainly subsisted on fish, game, and wild plants such as camas, bitterroot, and wild berries.

The Palouse people were part of the Plateau cultural group, which also included other tribes such as the Nez Perce, Yakama, and Spokane tribes. They had a rich oral history and believed in a spirit world, with a powerful creator spirit known as Coyote or Coyote-Man.

After contact with European explorers and settlers, the Palouse people suffered greatly from diseases introduced by the newcomers. In 1855, the tribe signed a treaty with the United States government, ceding much of their land in exchange for a reservation and other benefits.

Today, many members of the Palouse tribe are enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which was formed in the late 20th century to unite several different tribes in the region. The Palouse people continue to preserve their cultural traditions and language, with efforts to revitalize the Palouse language and promote tribal heritage and education.