Virginia Seelatsee Harrison

March 29, 1924 - December 2, 2017

Virginia Seelatsee “Yahamlit” spent her early years in White Swan. Virginia was a member of the Yakama Nation. She was the daughter of Joseph Seelatsee and Nina Lewis Seelatsee. She learned the Yakama language and traditions from her grandparents and remained a strong adherent to traditional values. She was a member of the Toppenish Creek Longhouse of White Swan and one of the leaders of the traditional food gatherers. In this role, she took her work seriously and participated as a food gatherer at every feast throughout the year. After completing school at White Swan high school she attended the Haskell Indian Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. At Haskell she met Pierce Harrison (Sr.) and they married while completing their education at Lawrence. Virginia had a long work history beginning with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in several agencies, including: Dulce, Zuni and Shiprock, New Mexico. Virginia and her family returned to White Swan in 1966 and she has been a resident of White Swan since that time. Her work in Washington included being on staff at the Fort Simcoe Job Corps Center, several departments of the Yakama Indian Nation ending at the Cultural Heritage Center when she was voted into the Yakama Tribal Council. She served on standing committees including the Executive Board. She participated with the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, and other inter-tribal associations. After her tenure with Tribal Council ended she began volunteering at the White Swan emergency services sub-station and completed her work with the White Swan Clinic as receptionist in 2013. She worked 60 plus years and even after retirement as her health permitted she would still report to work at White Swan clinic At all the places she worked she made many life-long friends from Kansas, New Mexico and Washington. Her husband Pierce passed away in 1981. She is survived by her sons: Pierce (Kim), Perry and Preston. Other family members are her grandson Pierce “Sonny” of Tempe, AZ Sonny’s mother Linda Pratt, and granddaughter Kathryn Akeah, of Tenino, WA. Virginia’s great-grandchildren are: Kayik of Boulder, Colorado, Kiya of Tenino, Washington, and Sophia of Phoenix, Arizona. She is survived by her sisters Elizabeth Henry and MaryAnn Jamison of White Swan. Her other siblings were Evelyn Yniguez, and Frank Dean Seelatsee. Virginia has many nephews, nieces and their off spring from her immediate family and her husband’s family. Dressing services will be held on Monday December 4, 2017 at 2PM at Colonial Funeral Home. Overnight services will be at the Toppenish Creek Longhouse Monday evening with funeral services starting at 8AM Tuesday at the longhouse with interment to follow at the Toppenish Creek Cemetery. Colonial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.