Smohalla


Smohalla

(smōhăl`ə), c.1815–1907, Native American prophet, chief of a small tribe (the Wanapun) of the Columbia River valley. He preached a religion based on a vision of returning to Native American modes of living. His followers, called the Dreamers, did not advocate force, but they caused some difficulty to the government in its policy of forcing Native Americans to settle on reservations.

Bibliography

See C. Relander, Drummers and Dreamers (1956).