During the Walla Walla Treaty negotiations of 1855, one Native American leader, Smohalla, chose not to negotiate with the U.S. Government. Instead, he returned to Priest Rapids with his followers to continue living as they had in the past. Because this area was relatively isolated from the non-Indian population, the group, later to be known as the Wanapum, remained in the Priest Rapids Valley throughout the Territorial Period without substantial influence from the non-Indian population. The influence of Smohalla, however, reached far beyond the Priest Rapids Valley. As an adherent to the Washat religion, Smohalla spread the message of revitalization, and inspired many Plateau peoples on and off the Indian reservations to maintain their traditional ways of life and not succumb to the ways of the White Man. The influences of Smohalla and his disciples and descendants continue today.