Smohalla

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Smohalla or shmoquala (c. 1815 - 1895) (i.e. preacher) was a chief of the Wanapum tribe of North American Indians who founded the Dreamers religious sect. He was born between 1815 and 1820. On one occasion, after a tribal fray, he was left for dead, but recovered and journeyed through California, Mexico, Arizona and Nevada to his old home on the Upper Columbia, Washington, where he announced that he had been in the spirit world and had returned with a revelation. This consisted in a return to primitive Indian customs, and a priesthood and ritual based on the Roman Catholic type. Besides Sunday services the Dreamers hold a service for the commemoration of the dead in early spring, and thanksgivings for salmon and for berries in April and in October respectively. Smohalla had frequent trances and his influence extended over most of the tribes of eastern Washington, Oregon and western Idaho. The sect gave some trouble in 1870 by refusing to come under reservation restrictions. A church was established at Priests Rapids on the upper Columbia, and one at Union Gap on the Yakirna reservation.