The Duwamish Tribe
Since time immemorial, the Duwamish People have stewarded 54,000 acres of land which today encompass the cities of Seattle, Renton, Tukwila, Bellevue, Mercer Island, and much of King County. Chief Si'ahl, who was chief of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes, welcomed the first settlers in 1851, and was the first signatory on the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855. The city of Seattle was named after him.
However, the U.S, government did not honor the treaty. The Duwamish villages were burned and the people expelled from their land. The Duwamish Tribe petitioned the government for a settlement in 1925 and received a judgement in their favor. They were recognized by Congress as the Duwamish Tribe, finally receiving a settlement in that case in 1971 in the form of $64 dollars per tribal member.
In 1978, they began their efforts to restore their federal recognition with the government. They received acknowledgement in 2001 by the Clinton administration, but the decision was reversed in 2002 by the incoming Bush administration. In 2015, they appealed their case with the Department of the Interior which was denied in 2019.
On May 11, 2022, the Duwamish Tribe filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington to secure its tribal sovereignty that predates the founding of the United States. Check the Duwamish Tribe's Lawsuit for Federal Recognition webpage for the most recent information on the case.
Duwamish Tribal Services, a 501[c]3 organization, was established in 1983 by the Duwamish Tribal Council to promote the social, cultural, and economic survival of the Duwamish Tribe. You can learn more about the Tribe at their website.
However, the U.S, government did not honor the treaty. The Duwamish villages were burned and the people expelled from their land. The Duwamish Tribe petitioned the government for a settlement in 1925 and received a judgement in their favor. They were recognized by Congress as the Duwamish Tribe, finally receiving a settlement in that case in 1971 in the form of $64 dollars per tribal member.
In 1978, they began their efforts to restore their federal recognition with the government. They received acknowledgement in 2001 by the Clinton administration, but the decision was reversed in 2002 by the incoming Bush administration. In 2015, they appealed their case with the Department of the Interior which was denied in 2019.
On May 11, 2022, the Duwamish Tribe filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington to secure its tribal sovereignty that predates the founding of the United States. Check the Duwamish Tribe's Lawsuit for Federal Recognition webpage for the most recent information on the case.
Duwamish Tribal Services, a 501[c]3 organization, was established in 1983 by the Duwamish Tribal Council to promote the social, cultural, and economic survival of the Duwamish Tribe. You can learn more about the Tribe at their website.
Visit the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
In 2008, through great perseverance, the Duwamish Tribe raised enough money to buy back their People's own territory to build the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. Today's Longhouse stands across the street from the site of one of their largest villages before it was burned down by settlers in 1895. This village was called yile’qwud (Yee-LE-kwud), referring to a Yakama style basket hat. The village was made up of large cedar plank longhouses, much like the one there today, where multiple families shared living and community space.
The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center houses the Duwamish Tribal Services staff offices, the Duwamish Longhouse Store, and the Collections exhibit which explores Duwamish ways of life before the settlers arrived, as well as the relationship between the Tribe and the settlers who arrived in the 1850’s.
We encourage Real Renters to visit the Longhouse in person. While you're there, you can pick up your free t-shirt!
The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center houses the Duwamish Tribal Services staff offices, the Duwamish Longhouse Store, and the Collections exhibit which explores Duwamish ways of life before the settlers arrived, as well as the relationship between the Tribe and the settlers who arrived in the 1850’s.
We encourage Real Renters to visit the Longhouse in person. While you're there, you can pick up your free t-shirt!