Since time immemorial, indigenous groups have lived throughout the Americas, with strong roots in Washington State. Though these tribes have faced countless hardships, they have adapted, educated, and fought for legislation to become the resilient community they are today. Our local Snoqualmie Tribe is a shining example of the resilience of Native cultures, beating the odds to become a thriving and rapidly growing community.
The Snoqualmie Tribe’s culture is shaped by the land, the language, and the traditions that bring their community together. Culture is something that is lived every day, not just something from the past. The Snoqualmie people have always spoken the Lushootseed language, which connects them through stories, songs, and ceremonies. Their environment is also extremely important, especially cedar, which is used for art, canoes, and even funerals. As the Snoqualmie tribe’s Curriculum and Culture Education Facilitator, Tad Burnell explained, “We are always doing some kind of cedar work,” showing how traditional materials are still part of their daily life and culture.
Throughout the years, the Snoqualmie tribe has persisted through many hardships, one example of which is the Point Elliot treaty of 1855. The treaty gave the Snoqualmie people official government recognition as a tribe as well as fishing and hunting rights. However, this treaty was broken in 1953 by the United States government. As Burnell explained, “The state government here in Washington state started taping some land away from the Snoqualmie tribe and other tribes in the area, because part of that federal recognition was that you have to have a certain amount of land to be federally recognized. The state knew that, the government knew that, so they slowly started selling off the land here and there so that the tribe didn’t have enough land to be federally recognized.” Due to these tactics, the Snoqualmie tribe lost its official recognition as a tribe. However, this was not the end of the tribe altogether. Over the nearly 40 years to follow, the tribe worked to grow in numbers and land, eventually regaining official tribal status in 1974. Despite this and many other challenges, the Snoqualmie people persisted, standing together as a tribe to protect their heritage. Through trying times, the Snoqualmie tribe built a thriving community rooted in heritage and community.
Ultimately, we aim to highlight the Snoqualmie Tribe’s resilience while calling attention to how often Native communities remain underrepresented in mainstream media. By learning about the Snoqualmie people’s history, culture, traditions, and values, we can better understand the roots of the land we live on and the community we call home. Burnell comments on the progress of integrating tribal curriculum into classrooms, saying that it is “on the final stages to start to introduce into the districts.” While Burnell and other tribe members are “not able to talk much about it at the moment,” these conversations mark an important step toward greater recognition and understanding. More information is expected to come as this work continues. We implore you to stay tuned.
