In Warm Springs, Ore. as the sunlight peeked through the clouds on a hot Saturday afternoon in June, the sounds of jingle cones and brass bells blended with the rhythmic downbeats of the drum. Dancers filled the powwow circle for the grand entry of the 55th Annual Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days Powwow and celebration which took place June 27-30, 2024. Hundreds of families gather every year from near and far to participate in the powwow, traditional parade, rodeo, endurance horse races, stick game and more.

The first Pi-Ume-Sha celebration took place in 1969 as a way to honor Native veterans, says 71-year-old Warm Springs elder, Louise Katchia who has been helping organize the event for the past five decades. This year was the first time she was able to watch her grandkids run around and have fun from the sideline since retiring last year. She has now passed the baton onto her nieces and younger relatives to continue the legacy.

“They wanted to honor our veterans and our elders, because of their vast knowledge of our old ways of culture and spiritual gatherings,” Katchia said. “This was one way we could honor the veterans and to remind people, not just the community, but the surrounding communities, about the sacrifices the Native people had made.”

This year also marked the 169th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of 1855, which established the Warm Springs Reservation on a fraction of the original 10 million-acre territory. The treaty was an integral part to preserving their sovereign rights to harvest fish and game, as well as gathering other first foods on lands beyond the reservation boundaries.

“We signed our treaty on June 25, 1855 and we’re still here practicing our way of life,” said Cyrille Mitchell, treasurer of the Pi-Ume-Sha committee. “They did it for celebration, because ‘Pi-Ume-Sha’ does mean ‘celebration.’’

Mitchell’s family has a deeply rooted connection to the annual celebration. Her grandfather, Arthur Mitchell, was one of the founders of Pi-Ume-Sha back in the late 60’s. She calls herself a “Pi-Ume-Sha baby” because her birthday falls around the annual celebration, and because she grew up coming to the event each year participating in multiple capacities, including holding the crown as Miss Pi-Ume-Sha in 2008. Her daughter followed in her footsteps and held the title from 2023-2024. 

“We bring our children up in this,” Mitchell told Noeledrich. “It’s a revolving door of just letting the world know we’re still here. [Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days] is a positive family event and is what our community looks forward to every year, because it’s a celebration.”

Close window X

Republish this article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Noeledrich makes all of the journalism we produce available for republication at no cost. If you’re a news outlet interested in republishing one of our stories, you will find a republishing widget at the bottom of every story. We are grateful for all of our publishing partners. We only ask that you abide by the republishing guidelines found here.

 ‘Pi-Ume-Sha Means Celebration’

by Jarrette Werk, Underscore + Report for America, Noeledrich
July 4, 2024

<h1> ‘Pi-Ume-Sha Means Celebration’</h1> <p class="byline">by Jarrette Werk, Underscore + Report for America, Noeledrich <br />July 4, 2024</p> <p>In Warm Springs, Ore. as the sunlight peeked through the clouds on a hot Saturday afternoon in June, the sounds of jingle cones and brass bells blended with the rhythmic downbeats of the drum. Dancers filled the powwow circle for the grand entry of the 55th Annual Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days Powwow and celebration which took place June 27-30, 2024. Hundreds of families gather every year from near and far to participate in the powwow, traditional parade, rodeo, endurance horse races, stick game and more.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Linda-Meanus-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4080" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linda Meanus, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, granddaughter of the Chief of Celilo Falls, holds her eagle feather fan as she dances around the circle during grand entry of Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days on Saturday June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> <p>The first Pi-Ume-Sha celebration took place in 1969 as a way to honor Native veterans, says 71-year-old Warm Springs elder, Louise Katchia who has been helping organize the event for the past five decades. This year was the first time she was able to watch her grandkids run around and have fun from the sideline since retiring last year. She has now passed the baton onto her nieces and younger relatives to continue the legacy.</p> <p>“They wanted to honor our veterans and our elders, because of their vast knowledge of our old ways of culture and spiritual gatherings,” Katchia said. “This was one way we could honor the veterans and to remind people, not just the community, but the surrounding communities, about the sacrifices the Native people had made.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Louise-Katchia--1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4081" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">On Saturday June 29, 2024, Louise Katchia, 71, Warm Springs, Waco and Paiute, sits back and watches the powwow as a spectator for the first time in nearly five decades. Last year she retired from the Pi-Ume-Sha committee, a role she held since she was 20 years-old. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> <p>This year also marked the 169th anniversary of the signing of the <a href="https://warmsprings-nsn.gov/treaty-documents/treaty-of-1855/">Treaty of 1855</a>, which established the Warm Springs Reservation on a fraction of the original 10 million-acre territory. The treaty was an integral part to preserving their sovereign rights to harvest fish and game, as well as gathering other first foods on lands beyond the reservation boundaries.</p> <p>“We signed our treaty on June 25, 1855 and we're still here practicing our way of life,” said Cyrille Mitchell, treasurer of the Pi-Ume-Sha committee. “They did it for celebration, because ‘Pi-Ume-Sha’ does mean ‘celebration.’'</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Inter-Tribal-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4082" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A dog joined in during a round dance at the 55th annual Pi-Ume-Sha powwow on Saturday June 30, 2024. He walked around synchronized to the beat of the drum before being ushered out of the circle. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> <p>Mitchell’s family has a deeply rooted connection to the annual celebration. Her grandfather, Arthur Mitchell, was one of the founders of Pi-Ume-Sha back in the late 60’s. She calls herself a “Pi-Ume-Sha baby” because her birthday falls around the annual celebration, and because she grew up coming to the event each year participating in multiple capacities, including holding the crown as Miss Pi-Ume-Sha in 2008. Her daughter followed in her footsteps and held the title from 2023-2024.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Young-Drummer-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4083" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Two young boys sing with a drum group during inter-tribals during Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days on Saturday June 29, 2024. Everyone is encouraged to come out in the circle to dance and have fun. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> <p>“We bring our children up in this,” Mitchell told Noeledrich. “It’s a revolving door of just letting the world know we're still here. [Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days] is a positive family event and is what our community looks forward to every year, because it's a celebration.”</p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4085" data-id="4085" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Nina-Vega-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Nina Vega, 3, from Goldendale, Wash. takes a sip of her drink while holding her cousin's sleeping puppy, named Mosquito, before the Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days grand entry on June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4088" data-id="4088" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jesse-Reese-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Jesse Reese, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and his horse Bay, pose for their photo after winning the team roping category during the rodeo at the 55th annual Pi-Ume-Sha powwow on Saturday June 29, 2024 in Warm Springs, Ore. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4089" data-id="4089" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jingle-Dress-Dancer-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">The jingle dress dance is known as a healing or medicine dance with origins that trace back to Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwa in the early 1900s. It gets its name from the rows of metal jingle cones that make a distinct sound with each dance move. At the 55th annual Pi-Ume-Sha powwow on Saturday June 29, 2024(Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4087" data-id="4087" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Clinton-Bruised-Head-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Clinton Bruised Head, Blood Tribe of Canada, is a three time world champion steer wrestler and all-around cowboy who comes from a rodeo family in Alberta, Canada. He moved to Warm Springs with his wife, who is a Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs citizen, in the early 90's. Over the years Bruised Head has helped build portions of the rodeo arena and mentored other young cowboys and cowgirls in the area. Photo taken at Warm Springs Ranch Rodeo grounds on June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America) </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4086" data-id="4086" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chief-Jefferson-Greene-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Newly elected Wasco Chief, Jefferson Greene, waves to the crowd during grand entry of the 55th annual Pi-Ume-Sha powwow in Warm Springs on Saturday June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America) </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4109" data-id="4109" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Drum-Group-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Two young boys sing with the drum group during inter-tribal songs where everyone is encouraged to come out in the circle to dance and have fun during Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days on June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4108" data-id="4108" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Fancy-Dancer-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Women's fancy shawl and jingle dress dancers hop, spin and twirl in fluid motions, telling a story with their foot work as the crowd watches the Pi-Ume-Sha powwow on Saturday, June 29, 2024 in Warm Springs, Ore. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4107" data-id="4107" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mens-Fancy_01-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Men's fancy dance requires strength and stamina to spin, hop and twirl with vibrant, flashy and highly energetic dance moves that entertain the crowds. At the 55th annual Pi-Ume-Sha Powwow held in Warm Springs, Ore. on Saturday June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America) </figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4105" data-id="4105" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Corvette-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">An old white Corvette is decorated with flags and a fake horse head wearing a horse mask with leather fringe and cowrie sells at the powwow grounds in Warm Springs, Ore. on June 29, 2024. In the rear seat, sits a large painted drum. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4106" data-id="4106" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Parade-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">After the traditional parade wrapped, three people on horse back maneuver through traffic back to their horse trailers on June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4104" data-id="4104" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Three-Tipi-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Below the Warm Springs' three-teepee rock formation on the plateau over looking the community and powwow grounds, sits three-teepees that were erected for the 55th Annual Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days celebration that took place June 27-30, 2024. The signature three-teepees represent the three Native Nations that make up the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute Nations. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4103" data-id="4103" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Louise-Katchia-2-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">On Saturday June 29, 2024, Louise Katchia, 71, Warm Springs, Waco and Paiute, sits back and watches the powwow as a spectator for the first time in nearly five decades. Last year she retired from the Pi-Ume-Sha committee, a role she held since she was 20 years-old. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4101" data-id="4101" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Fancy-Dancer_02-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Spectators watch as both mens fancy and grass dancers float across the circle in a blur of vibrant colors during Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days on June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4099" data-id="4099" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Horses-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">After the rodeo ended, a heard of horses and their foals run past a pick-up truck entering the Warm Springs Ranch area on the Warm Springs Reservation on June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4095" data-id="4095" src="https://noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Watering-Horses-1-scaled.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Two young boys carry a yellow bucket back to their horse trailer after the rodeo at the Warm Springs Ranch on Saturday June 29, 2024. (Photo by Jarrette Werk Noeledrich / Report for America) </figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://noeledrich.com/culture/pi-ume-sha-means-celebration/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://noeledrich.com&quot;&gt;Noeledrich&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/noeledrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cropped-siteicon.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://noeledrich.com/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=4075&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://noeledrich.com/culture/pi-ume-sha-means-celebration/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/noeledrich.com/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;</p> Copy to Clipboard

1