A state land trust has returned 180 acres of ancestral land to the Yakama Nation.

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and Seattle-based Forterra recently completed the purchase and transfer of the property known as “Frog’s Home” along the Yakima River.

Located south of Union Gap, the property is rich with traditional and cultural history and woven into the Yakama Nation’s oral teachings, according to a Forterra release. It is home to salmon habitat, wintering waterfowl and rich riparian systems.

Still image from YouTube video by Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board

“The return of an important site to the Yakama Nation is a notable step towards tribal sovereignty. Forterra taking the risks on behalf of this land transfer, rallying behind this project until the end, is admirable and appreciated by the Yakama Nation,” said Chairman Caseymac Wallahee of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council Culture Committee, in a statement. “A lot of work and care went into this project by all partners involved, and Yakama Nation will continue to preserve and protect this resource for generations to come.”

In 2023, Forterra provided the initial $1.3 million in interim debt financing and related costs to pull Frog’s Home off the open market. This allowed time for collaborative fundraising and project planning. 

Since then, Yakama Nation and Forterra raised more than $2 million.

“This effort reflects years of trust-building, shared vision and the grit it takes to see a complex project through. It’s also a powerful example of what happens when public, private, and tribal partners come together to do the right thing,” said Forterra President and CEO Michelle Connor in a statement.

Financing for the property transaction was provided by The Commerce Bank of Washington and secured with the help of four anonymous guarantors. 

The state Recreation and Conservation Office provided a $1.4 million grant and helped navigate the complexities of the deal.