Buttlemuleemauch | |
|---|---|
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States (Washington) | |
| Languages | |
| English,Salishan,Interior Salish | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Colville,Sanpoil,Nespelem,Palus,Wenatchi,Entiat,Sinixt,Southern Okanagan,Sinkiuse-Columbia, and theNez Perce of Chief Joseph's band |
TheMethow (/ˈmɛthaʊ/MET-how) are aNative American tribe that lived along theMethow River, atributary of theColumbia River in northernWashington.[1] They are anInterior Salish people and anIndigenous people of the Plateau. Today, Methow people are enrolled in theConfederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, afederally recognized tribe.
The Methow were a relatively small tribe, with an estimated population of 800 in 1780 and 300 in 1870.[1]
The river's English name is taken from that of the tribe. The name "Methow" comes from theOkanagan placename/mətxʷú/, meaning "sunflower (seeds)". The tribe's name for the river wasButtlemuleemauch, meaning "salmon falls river".[2]
Their endangered language, known asColville-Okanagan, spoken only by older adults, is a part of the SouthernInterior Salish linguistic branch.[3] The Methow now speak English.
