James Selam (b. December 26, 1919 - d. February 28, 2007) was born in Rock Creek, Washington. He served in the U.S. Army from 1940-1946 and was a visiting lecturer of American Indian Studies Center in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Washington. He was also a consultant at the Burke Museum and an instructor at the North Cascades Institute. He was a native Sahaptin speaker and spiritual leader of the Yakama Nation and other surrounding tribes in the North West, and chaplain for many military graveside services.
[Information adapted from James G. Selam memorial; Source: findagrave.com; Date Accessed: 08/09/2023]
The Sahaptin are a number of Native American tribes who speak dialects of the Sahaptin language. The Sahaptin tribes inhabited territory along the Columbia River and its tributaries in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Sahaptin-speaking peoples included the Klickitat, Kittitas, Yakama, Wanapum, Palus, Lower Snake, Skinpah, Walla Walla, Umatilla, Tenino, and Nez Perce.
Tenino refers properly to the westernmost Sahaptin-speaking village of the Columbia River Sahaptin dialect group, not to any larger “tribal” confederation. The Sahaptin-speaking groups on the Warm Springs Reservation were separated by treaties from their close kin; those who lived on the north bank of the Columbia River were assigned to the Yakama, while those living upriver came to be designated Umatillas.
[Information adapted from “Western Columbia River Sahaptins” (1998) by Dr. Eugene S. Hunn and David H. French; Date Accessed: 08/09/2023]
Preliminary atlas of Columbia River Sahaptin Indian geography (photocopy) developed by James Selam and Dr. Eugene Hunn, 1986; Gazetteer of Sahaptin place names, 1987; Sahaptin translated texts, 1986; and JRF grant application.
Places studied in the greatest detail were the lower Klickitat River, the Dalles, the Celilo Falls area, Alderdale, and the sacred mountain Laliik. Extensive information on Sahaptin place names and phrases connected with camping, root and berry gathering, hunting, and fishing places along the Columbia River; obtained from interviews with tribal elders who grew up along the river between 1910 and 1940. Sahaptin speakers who contributed to this research project include Elsie Albert Selam, Sara Quaempts, Howard Selam, James Selam, Inez Isidore, and Sally Buck.
Forms part of the Jacobs Research Funds linguistic research collection.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
James Selam via Eugene Hunn, 1987-02-27