The Muckleshoot tribe, descendants of various northwestern North American aboriginal groups, reside on the Muckleshoot Reservation in Washington state. They are the largest Aboriginal group in the state and govern themselves through a council. They refer to themselves as the Salmon People and depend on salmon for their culture. The tribe built a casino in 1995 to support their community and expand their reservation’s boundaries.
Formed in 1850, the Muckleshoot tribe is a group whose members are the descendants of northwestern North American aboriginal groups, such as the Skopamish, Smulkamish, Stkamish, Tkwakwamish, and Yilalkoamish. The Duwamish, Snoqualmie, Tulalip, and Suquamish groups were gradually incorporated into the tribe beginning in 1860. These groups are part of the Pacific Northwest Coast Salish peoples. The Coast Salish peoples, prior to the arrival of European settlers, were primarily fishing communities, with some groups augmenting their food supplies by hunting. The Muckleshoot Tribe now resides on the Muckleshoot Reservation, located in the US state of Washington.
The population of the Muckleshoot tribe is the largest of any Aboriginal group in Washington state. It has approximately 3,300 members who reside on or near the reservation. The reservation was established in accordance with the Point Elliott and Medicine Creek treaties. Native groups initially fought the move to the much smaller area given to them by treaties, but were forced to give way. The groups that settled there gradually took on the name of their new home, Muckleshoot.
In 1936, the Muckleshoot tribe drafted its constitution. As a federally recognized tribal government, they are allowed to govern themselves. The constitution stipulates that the tribe will be led by a council of nine. Its membership rotates every three years. This council answers to the General Council, which includes all members of the tribe.
The group refer to themselves as the Salmon People due to the importance of fish in their culture. Pacific Northwest groups depended on salmon to support their communities, and cultivated methods of preserving the fish for future consumption, such as smoking and salt curing. Surpluses from their salmon shops were often traded for other goods with the people nearby. Each year they hold the First Salmon Ceremony, which marks the beginning of each fishing season.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Muckleshoot tribe came into conflict with Washington fishermen because they felt the salmon runs were under threat and wanted to protect them. The tribe’s protests became known as the Fish Wars, and the US federal government caved in to its pressure and issued the Boldt Decision in 1974. The Boldt Decision stated that the tribe had the right to protect its ability to harvest salmon, even in areas not in their reservation.
The tribe decided to take advantage of its proximity to the city of Seattle and built a casino in 1995. The casino helps support the tribe by helping them purchase surrounding lands so they can expand the reservation’s boundaries. The proceeds also allow the group to create a robust education system to ensure the survival of their culture.
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