Walla Walla expedition

The Walla Walla expeditions were two movements of Indigenous from the Columbian Plateau to Alta California during the mid-nineteenth century. The original expedition uu was organised to gain sizable populations of cattle for native peoples that lived on Columbian Plateau. Among the prominent members was Walla Walla leader Piupiumaksmaks, his son Toayahnu, Garry of the Spokanes and Cayuse headman Tawatoy. The first expedition arrived at New Helvetia in 1844. Several hundred cattle were secured from American and Mexican settlers, however a confrontation erupted with Toayahnu being killed by an American. The Plateau natives then escaped from the colony, losing all of their purchased livestock.

Toayahnu's angered many indigenous across multiple Plateau nations and for a while it was considered to exact revenge on John Sutter's colony with a mixed military force of 2,000. The Nez Perce Ellis was sent to Fort Vancouver as a delegate of the aggrieved parties. Meetings were held with Hudson's Bay Company officers John McLoughlin and James Douglas. Both men declaimed the Plateau natives attacking the white colonists in Sacramento Valley, stating that they wouldn't sell rifles or other military armaments for such action. Later Ellis would have talks with Elijah White, then Indian subagent for the region. White also voiced against military action, promising to forward the complaints to John Sutter, Thomas O. Larkin the American Consul for Alta California and Governor of Alta California Manuel Micheltorena.

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