The+Duwamish+Tribe+-+People+of+the+Inside

  The Duwamish Tribe calls the Puget Sound Region of Washington State home. The Duwamish are the first known people to inhabit the area of present day Seattle, Mercer Island, Renton, Bellevue, Tukwila and other areas of king county. They were often referred to as “The People of the Inside” or   “People of the Large Lake.” At each village the Duwamish had, they build longhouses from cedar planks and had them facing a beach, river or other body of water. Several generations would often live in one longhouse. The Duwamish passed on traditions and stories by carving wood into totem poles, or other smaller objects. A totem pole was dedicated in West Seattle in 2006. This totem pole tells of a story of the Duwamish people welcoming the white settlers into the Seattle area. The pole also has a thunderbird carved into it, symbolizing Chief Seattle, the namesake of Seattle, WA.     The Duwamis tribe would trade with other tribes within the Puget Sound region as well as with tribes on the other side of the Cascade mountain range in Eastern Washington. These trade relationships were often established with marriages between members of each respective tribe. It was typical for the wife to move to tribe the husband belonged to. The typical diet of the Duwamish people consisted of elk, deer, berries, grasses, shellfish, salmon, potatoes and other vegetation. The language of the Duwamish was the Lushootseed, a part of the Salishan language. In 1855, the Duwamish and other tribes, signed the Treaty of Point Elliot. This treaty was to guarantee fishing rights and reservation lands for the tribes. To this day, the Duwamish and a few other tribes still do not have a reservation to call their own. The picture in the upper left is a map that shows the tribal reservations and treaty boundaries in the Puget Sound Region; notice that Duwamish Tribe does not have land to call their own. From a young age, Chief Seattle found the European settlers interesting and wanted to learn about them and their culture. As an adult, he befriended Doc Maynard, an entrepreneur that was known to be a heavy drinker; Maynard had an interest in establishing the City of Seattle. Chief Seattle helped protect Doc Maynard and other European settlers from attacks and assassination attempts from other Indians. He tried to avoid conflict at all costs and was called a coward for doing so. But when war was necessary, Chief Seattle rose to the challenge and was known for his bravery. Chief Seattle was not a true chief however, but a leader among the Duwamish Tribe. It was common for tribes in the Puget Sound region to not have elected Chiefs; instead they had leaders for different aspects of their life. A few examples of leaders within the Duwamish tribe are fishing leaders, peacetime leaders, and war time leaders. Chief Seattle is most well-known for giving a speech at a treaty proposal meeting in 1854 in the location that now encompasses downtown Seattle. In his speech, Chief Seattle talked about the world the he knew as a boy, and how it has changed since then. Because of this speech and other reasons, the city of Seattle was named after him. Chief Seattle passed away in 1866. In 1912, a statue of Chief Seattle was unveiled in Tilikum Place, a park in northern Seattle that is open to the public.    Currently, the Duwamish Tribe has about 600 members and has no reservation to call their own. The tribe recently finished a new Longhouse that looks over the Duwamish River is Seattle. This came after English settlers burnt down their first Longhouse over 100 years ago. The tribe had no place to hold gatherings so they often meet in local parks. During construction, members of the Seattle community came togethe   r to help the tribe finish their new Longhouse. In 2008 the Duwamish tribe started the fight to get federal recognition that would allow the tribe to exercise their treaty fishing rights, government aid for housing, education and healthcare, and the chance to open a casino in the Seattle area. The tribe was recognized by the Clinton administration, but when the Bush administration came into office, that decision was reversed. Some tribes in the surrounding Seattle area, mainly the Muckleshoot, agreed with the Bush administration saying that the Duwamish tribe is dead. It is speculated that the Muckleshoot feel this was because of their large casino located in Auburn, WA, about 30 min south of Seattle. The Duwamish tribe has held fundraisers and other events to help pay for the legal costs associated with fighting for Tribal recognition. A recent fund raiser was “Fry Bread for Justice.” This event was held at the tribal longhouse and those who attended ate fry bread and were provided entertained by the tribe. Resources: // Duwamish Tribe //. Web. 6 Apr. 2011. . The Duwamish Tribe website that provides an in depth look at the tribes history, current status and what their plans for the future are. "Chief Seattle." //Welcome to Chief Seattle Arts--your Online Source for the Best in Pacific Northwest Coast Native Artworks, Books, and Information!// Web. 6 Apr. 2011. . Background of Chief Seattle "Duwamish (tribe): Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article." //AbsoluteAstronomy.com//. Web. 8 Apr. 2011. . In depth look at the history of the Duwamish Tribe including their diet, location, Customs, and government interventions that have affected the tribe today. Shukovsky, Paul. "Duwamish Tribe Fights for Recognition - Seattlepi.com." //Seattle News, Sports, Events, Entertainment | Seattlepi.com - Seattlepi.com//. 4 Sept. 2008. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. . News article from the Seattle Post Intelligence newspaper that brings to light the fight the Duwamish tribe is going through to earn recognition from the US government. "Duwamish Indian Tribe History." //Access Genealogy: A Free Genealogy Resource//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. . Website that provides history of the Duwamish tribe, Chief Seattle, and other tribes in the Puget Sound Area. "Information about the Duwamish (tribe)." //Engligh!nfo//. Web. 8 Apr. 2011. . Discussion about names of the Duwamish people, history of the tribe and how Chief Seattle was important. Also touches on the lifestyle of the Duwamish Tribe. Grygiel, Chris. "Duwamish Tribe Tries for Federal Recognition -- Again - Seattlepi.com." //Seattle News, Sports, Events, Entertainment | Seattlepi.com - Seattlepi.com//. 14 July 2009. Web. 9 Apr. 2011. . This article is a continuation of previous article in September 2008. Discusses where the issue stands now and opposition of this issue from a tribe in the Seattle area. Zahn, Theron. "Duwamish Tribe Gets a New Home | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News | Local & Regional." //Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News//. 21 Nov. 2008. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. . News article about the Duwamish building their new longhouse 100 years after the first longhouse was burnt down by settlers. "Indianz.Com News Duwamish Tribe Completes Work on New Longhouse." //Indianz.Com - Your Internet Resource//. 10 Sept. 2008. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. []. Native American website talking about the Duwamish Tribes new longhouse. Shay, Steve. "'Health Care Bill Stalled Duwamish Recognition,' Says Congressman Jim McDermott." //West Seattle Herald / White Center News//. 12 July 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. . Article talking about the Duwamish tribe trying to get recognition from the US Government and the bill that is slowing down the process. "Treaty of Point Elliott: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article." //AbsoluteAstronomy.com//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. . Breaks down the Treaty of Point Elliot and how is effected the Duwamish tribe and other tribes in the surrounding area. Warren, James R. "10 Who Shaped Seattle: Chief Seattle -- Peacemaker, 'firm Friend of the Whites' - Seattlepi.com." //Seattle News, Sports, Events, Entertainment | Seattlepi.com - Seattlepi.com//. 17 Sept. 2001. Web. 9 Apr. 2011. . More history about Chief Seattle’s background and how he interacted with settlers and why he was respected my may people. Photograph. Web. 9 Apr. 2011. . Photo of Chief Seattle used in article. "Chief Seattle Statue." //United States History//. Web. 9 Apr. 2011. . Article discussing the background of the Chief Seattle sculpture that is located in a downtown Seattle park. Photograph. Web. 8 Apr. 2011. <http://www.historylink.org/db_images/Seattle_DuwamishLonghouse3-Jan2009.jpg>. Photo of Duwamish Longhouse used in article. Murakami, Kery. "Duwamish History Again Stands Tall - Seattlepi.com." //Seattle News, Sports, Events, Entertainment | Seattlepi.com - Seattlepi.com//. 6 Aug. 2006. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Duwamish-history-again-stands-tall-1211408.php>. Article talking about the significance of the totem pole located at a West Seattle view point. "Duwamish Indian Tribe of Washington | Native American Encyclopedia." //Native American | The Native American Encyclopedia//. Web. 9 Apr. 2011. <http://nativeamericanencyclopedia.com/duwamish-indian-tribe-of-washington/>. Atricle gave background of the tribe and highlighted the trading of the Duwamish tribe and how it was achieved. Video blog post. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. <http://westseattleblog.com/2009/03/duwamish-tribe-fundraiser-tomorrow-fry-bread-for-justice>. Blog giving information about a Duwamish fundraiser to gain funding fort their battle for government recognition. Photograph. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. <http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/decolonization/WAmap.gif>. Photo used in article that shows current boundaries for reservations and boundaries created by treaties.
 * The Duwamish Tribe – “The People of the Inside”  **