1855 - 1920

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1855
Govener Stevens of the Washington Territory signs a Treaty with fourteen tribes and bands who become the sovergn Nation of Yakama.

1906
Congress moves away from funding an expansion of the boarding school system. Indian Commissioner Frances E. Leupp approves a plan to move Indian students into the public school system. Leupp thought by placing children with non-Indian peers they would quickly move to accepting the norms of white America. Leupp thought the governments Indian education business could be ended in a few generations through a public indoctrination system.

1920 - 1940

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At the turn of the twentieth century Ben Olney, Red Fox, and Balck Hawk visioned the establishment of a place where communities could come together and develop depper relationship. Their hope was that the Mission would be located in the White Swan area, a traditional meeting area, with buildings forming a circle with an open area in the center.
1920
The American Christian Missionary Society purchases land and begins construction for a mission near White Swan on the Yakima Indian Reservation in Washington.
1921
The Mission is officially opened with a cottage and a large dormitory for rural Indian children to be cared for while they attend school in White Swan.
1927
A second dormitory is completed and opened.

1930
The “Great Depression” forces the Mission to begin charging fees for child care. Church school classes, Sunday evening meetings and week day services are held in dorms..
1938
The Mission begins to dream and plan for a church building on mission property.

1940 - 1964

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1949
A medical clinic opened at the Mission. Religious services are open to the community and bus routes are established to bring people to services. The Trading Post, a used clothing store, is opened.

1950
A special Vacation Church School is begun in a house trailer at Celilo during salmon fishing season at the Falls.

1955
The Yakama Indian Christian Church, also known as the Log Church, is completed on the southwest corner of the property.

1958
The medical clinic closes as a US Public Health Clinic is established.

1959
A community kindergarten is opened at the Mission.

1962
As school transportation is inaugurated, the child care program is discontinued after serving over 2,000 children over a 42-year period. The dormitories are converted to a rural community program.

1964
The Valley Christian Church is completed in Wapato, and the Friendship House is opened in Toppenish for community service programs.

1964 - 1999

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1965
The Trading Post is moved to Toppenish and changes its name to the Friendship Shop.

1967
The Mission office is moved to Toppenish, and mission programs are located in the Log Church, the Valley Christian Church and the Friendship House. The Mission property in White Swan is leased to the Sundown-M Ranch, an alcohol treatment and rehabilitation organization.

1971
Yakama Indian Christian Mission celebrates its 50th Anniversary. The Mission is incorporated, and its operation placed in the care of a local board.

1973
The Friendship Shop is closed, and used clothing is distributed free through Friendship House.

1975
The Mission purchases a building in downtown Toppenish to house the offices, Friendship House, and alcohol recovery programs.

1983
The Sundown-M Ranch relocates.

1988
The original mission property at White Swan is purchased by the Yakima Indian Nation.

1991
The institutional Mission in Toppenish is closed, and all mission programs are refocused through the Log Church and the Valley Church. The Yakama Indian Christian Mission Committee is formed to replace the former board.

1993
The Mission is once again centered in the White Swan area as the Toppenish building and the Valley Church property in Wapato are sold. Proceeds of the sales provide a capital upkeep fund for the White Swan properties and a permanent fund for ministry with Native North Americans. Construction begins on a new building on the Log Church grounds for the clothing distribution center.

1994
The mission is renamed the Yakama Indian Christian Center, reflecting an official change of spelling of the Yakama Nation and a strengthened partnership with the Log Church in serving people in the Nation.

2000 - Present

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2000
The mission is renamed Yakama Christian Mission.

New summer programming with focus on life skills.

2001
Youth Education Services, a new non-profit of the Mission, is incorporated.

2002
The Learning & Serving format to summer, fall, and spring break workgroups is implemented.