The Indian Room

Narcissa sent this floorplan to her mother. Room A was not built. Room D is labeled the Indian Hall

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

The room in the northwest corner of the mission house was called the Indian Room. It was the only part of the house that the Whitmans allowed Native people to be in. When visiting Forts Walla Walla and Vancouver, the Whitmans watched as Hudson’s Bay Co. employees only allowed Native people into one small room of the fort for trade. This degree of separation was a policy that reinforced company control over trade negotiations. It was this model that the Whitmans were imitating. But the Whitmans were not here to trade. tílewkeỷkt invited the Whitmans to stay in the place he called home. The Whitmans were not so willing to extend that same invitation to the people they were here to serve.