Colestah

Colestah (born around 1800, died 1865), was one of the five wives of Chief Kamiakin (1800–1877) of the Yakama Native American tribe. She is described as being a medicine woman, a psychic, and a "warrior woman".[1] In 1858 she accompanied Kamiakin to the Battle of Four Lakes (or Battle of Spokane Plain) against Colonel George Wright,[2] armed with a stone war club, vowing to fight by his side. When Kamiakin was wounded, Colestah carried him off and used her skills in traditional tribal medicine to nurse him back to health.[3]

Colestah
Yakama medicine woman and warrior leader
Personal details
Born1800
Died1865
Spouse(s)One of the five wives of Chief Kamiakin
Known forFought at the Battle of Four Lakes

Kamiakin moved to the Palouse River, between today's St. John and Endicott in 1860, where his family followed its "seasonal rounds of root-digging, berry-gathering and salmon fishing." Colestah had a new son with Kamiakin in 1865, but "soon became ill and died."[4]

References
  1. Kurt R. Nelson (2011). Treaties and Treachery: The Northwest Indians' Resistance to Conquest. Paragon House. p. 240. ISBN 0-87004-500-8.
  2. Lillian Alice Ackerman (2003). A Necessary Balance: Gender and Power Among Indians of the Columbia Plateau. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-8061-3485-7.
  3. Salmonson, Jessica Amanda (1991). The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House. p. 63. ISBN 1-55778-420-5.
  4. Kershner, Jim (2012-04-19). "Chief Kamiakin (ca. 1800-1877)". HistoryLink.org- the Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
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