Sinpusquoish Winatcapam sign in Leavenworth

These signs at Waterfront Park in Leavenworth read,

Another Town,

We are the Sinpusquoish. We lived at the forks of these rivers long before the white men came. There were 200 of us that lived here at Chu-moush (Narrow in the Middle), between the rivers Pisquowse (Narrow Land) and Nasikelt (Narrow Bottom Canyon), which you call the Wenatchee and Icicle Rivers.

In spring, we journeyed to our root digging grounds. We traveled across the Big River you call Columbia, to the prairie country by the Cottonwood Place you call Ephrata. There, the roots and flowers were plentiful as the stars in the skies.

Bitterroot, biscuitroot, and wild carrots nestled in the rocky plains where you would think nothing could grow. We pried them up with our digging sticks. The men hunted and our children played in the tall, green grasses while we gathered roots. With our other people there we celebrated the root festival on those flats by the coulees.

We gathered camas, serviceberries and seeds on our way home. By the start of the hot weather, Schyakinum (Gathering Time), we were back home. The salmon had returned too. So many fish! Enough for everyone. Our people came form the north and east, from the Entiat, Chelan and Colockum villages. Our Kittitas people came from over the southern mountains. They spoke a different language, but we could understand.

This exhibit sponsored by Mrs. B.C. Byron Mikalson in loving memory of Zuva and John Byron and Bertha C. and John J. Byron.

(The other sign reads)

Another Life

There were over 2,000 people that came to the Winatcha (Water Flowing Out). They called this place “Winatchapam,” the big Winatcha fishery. Some men went into the canyon (Tumwater) where the wild rapids are and speared the big fish and scooped them into nets. That was dangerous, but the men were good at it. We fished and traded for things from places far away. Shells and beads, stone for making tools, beargrass for baskets and dried foods we didn't have. We married our children, gambled and played the stick games. We had a great feast to honor the salmon's return.

Before winter we broke up the fish camp and finished our food collecting. We went to the big lake (Lake Wenatchee) to gather huckleberries and hunt big game. When we came back to our valley, everything was prepared and stored for winter. We spent our winters here in houses dug into theground. They were warm during the long, cold winters. The Great Spirit brought life again in spring.

This exhibit sponsored by Mrs. B. C. Byron Mikalson in loving memory of Marie and Herman Stoltze and Alfred W. Stoltze.