In Bend Me, Shape Me, Snow Ramirez cannot escape her past nor avoid her future.  We are all products of our culture, our heritage, both the good and the bad.  If you would like to know more about the history of Snow’s Yakama ancestors, why not visit the website of the Yakama Museum? Or better yet, visit the museum itself next vacation.

Since time immemorial, the lands of Our People extended in all directions along the Cascade Mountain Range to the Columbia River and beyond. We consider it land given in trust by the Creator to us and a heritage to be held and protected for unborn generations.

The ancestors of today’s Yakamas were of different tribes and bands. Each was a distinct group led by a council of leaders, and each tribe or band spoke their own native language, and were closely related to other Columbia Basin Plateau Tribes. The following are the names of these tribes and bands that participated in or were named as part of the YAKAMA NATION.

Palouse, Pisquose, Yakama, Wenatchapam, Klinquit, Oche Chotes, Kow way saye ee, Sk’in-pah, Kah-miltpah, Klickitat, Wish ham , See ap Cat, Li ay was and Shyiks

via Yakama History