CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF CHABALIS

CHABLIS ARE A PEOPLE OF NATIVES FROM WESTERN WASHINGTON. THEY HAVE TWO DIVISIONS, THE UPPER AND LOWER DIVISION. WITHIN THESE DIVISIONS ARE SEVERAL OTHER TRIBES. THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS WAS WHERE THE CHEBALIS AND SATSOP RIVERS MEET. THEIR LANGUAGE IS THAT OF THE COAST SALISHAN FAMILY. THEY RELIED ON FISHING FROM LOCAL NATIVES AND THE BUILT PLANK HOUSES FROM CEDAR. IN 1860 THEY SETTLED ON THE CHABALIS RESERVATION WITH AN AREA OF ONLY 18 KM SQUARED IN SOUTHWEST THURSTON COUNTRY. THEY HAVE ONLY 700 PEOPLE.

THE TRIBE IS VITAL WITH RICH TRADITIONS SUCH AS PAINTING ON WOOD, BUILDING CANOES, EXPANDING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. IN THE OLD DAYS THEY GATHERED SACRED ROOTS AND BERRIES. THEY FISHED THE CHABLIS AND VARIOUS RIVERS. THEY HUNTED IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE PRAIRIES. IN PREHISTORIC AND HISTORIC TIMES THEIR BASKETS CARRIED AND STORED THEIR FOODS. WE RELIED ON THE RIVERS AND LAND AND BERRIES, THE FISH AND ANIMALS TO PROVIDE FOODS. OUR LIVES WERE TIED TOGETHER BY THE CREATOR. THESE GROUPS THRIVED FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL THE SETTLERS FORCED THEM TO GIVE UP THEIR LANDS, THEY REJECTED THE TERMS OF THE TREATY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WROTE TO FORCE THEM OFF THEIR LANDS. THEY WERE CONSIDERED A NON TREATY TRIBE. FINANCIAL AID FROM THE GOVERNMENT WAS LIMITED FROM THEM.

THEY ENDURED THESE CHALLENGES AND HAVE BECOME SELF RELIANT. THEY HAVE A NATURAL RESOURCE DIRECTOR WHO MANAGES PHYSICAL, CULTURAL, AND QUALITIES OF THE AIR, WATER, EARTH , PLANTS, AND WILDLIFE. THEY HAVE A FISH HATCHERY TO RESTORE AND MANAGE FISH SALES AND ANALYZE PROJECTS FOR RIVER IMPACTS. THEY HAVE A WATER RESOURCES PROGRAM FOR MONITORING WATER QUALITY. THEY HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMING FOR AIR QUALITY, BURNING PERMITS, AND WATERSHED PLANNING. AND A FORESTRY PROGRAM FOR TIMBER HARVESTING AND CULTURAL GATHERING AND FIREWOOD PERMITS.

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