Smohalla biography of albert

Wanapum dreamer-prophet

Smohalla (Dreamer) (circa 1815 - 1895) was a Wanapum dreamer-prophet associated with the Dreamers movement among Native American people in the Pacific Northwest’s Columbia Plateau region.

Biography

Born between 1815 and 1820 in the Wallula area of present-day Washington state, Smohalla belonged to the Shahaptian Wanapum (also Wanapam; called Sokulk by Lewis and Clark) tribal group.

At birth he was called Wak-wei or Kuk-kia, meaning “arising from the dust of earth mother.” After achieving prominence as a spiritual leader, he became known as Smohalla (or Smo-halla, Shmoqula, Smuxale, Smowalla, IPA:[ˈʃmuχala]), also defined as “preacher.” Still other names associated with him include Yuyunipitqana, “the shouting mountain” and Waipshwa, “Rock carrier.” ^[1]

Following political conflicts with the Walla Walla chief Homily (Homli), Smohalla and his followers moved to the more isolated area of P’na Village