By Amber Schlenker

TOPPENISH—Nearly two years ago Yakamart, located on Highway 97 and Fort Road, closed its doors to the public after more than 10 years of service. 

By June 9, 2001, Yakama Nation council members hope to have the convenience store up and running. Renovations began in February and the council hopes to have the project complete for the annual Treaty Days Celebrations. Initially the store was closed due to the hard economic times and spiking gas prices. 

However, Harry Smiskin, Chairman of the Yakama Nation Council said it was the duty of the tribe to have this service to its people. 

“It was a general council mandate to run the store,” he said. 

The store sits on the Yakama Nation reservation and serves tax free gas and necessities to tribal members. In addition a small retail outlet expansion is planned for addition in months to come. 

The project, according to Smiskin, set to be complete in a few short months will cost ‘a little under’ $3 million to complete. The renovation itself has added to the local economy allowing Joe Park Construction, a local business, to contract the project. A few more  jobs added will help run the store as well. Smiskin added it was the tribe’s duty to provide this [access] to their people. The renovations will include more gas pumps and a larger interior. In addition the mural currently placed will remain as part of the store. 

The Treaty Days events are set to for the weekend beginning June 10, 2011. Treaty Days commemorates the 1855 treaty between the Yakama Nation and the United States. On June 9, 1855, the Yakamas let go of 10 million acres of land in exchange for the establishment of the 1.2- million-acre reservation.

The Yakamart store is set to be apart of the celebration this year, June 9.