QUINATL NATION

THESE FOLKS LOOK LIKE MEXICANS THEY CONSIST OF QUINALT AND QUEETS TRIBES AND DESCENDANTS OF FIVE OTHER COASTAL TRIBES - QUILEUTE, HOH, CHEHABLIS, CHINOOK, AND COWLITZ. THEIR ANCESTORS LIVED ON A MAJOR PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL DIVIDING LINE. BEECHES TO THE SOUTH ARE WIDE AND SANDY, WHILE TO THE NORTH ARE RUGGED WITH CLIFF LINES. THEY SHARED WITH PEOPLE LIVING IN BOTH THESE AREAS.

IN 1911 THERE WERE 300 PEOPLE LIVING IN FAMILY GROUPS. THE GROUPS WERE IN LONG HOUSES UP AND DOWN THE RIVER THEY WERE SUSTAINED BY LAND AND BY TRADING. THEY HAD ABUNDANT SALMON RUNS TO THE SEA MAMMALS AND FOREST WILDLIFE. THEY HAD SPIRITUAL WEALTH AS DID THEIR ANCESTORS AS DID THEIR ANCESTORS. THEY KNEW THEIR NATIVE PLANTS THAT PROVIDED FOOD AND MEDICINES AS WELL AS SHELTER. THEY USED RED CEDAR TO MAKE CANOES, BARK FOR CLOTHING, SPLIT BOARDS FOR HOUSES. THEY SAY THEY ARE THE CANOE PEOPLE.

THEY USE THEIR PAST AS WELL AS THEIR MODERN PRINCIPALS IN A MARRIAGE THAT BRINGS PROMISE TO THEIR FUTURE.

IN 1990 THEY TOOK THE CHALLENGE TO IMPLEMENT SELF RULE INDIAN AFFAIRS. AFTER 150 YEARS OF MISMANAGEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT, THEY DECIDED THE TRIBES COULD BE MANAGED BY THEMSELVES BETTER TODAY THAN BY THE GOVERNMENT. TODAY THEY HAVE A MARITIME RESORT. MAY TAKE ANOTHER CENTURY TO COREECT MANY PROBLEMS. THERE LAND HAS 23 MILES OF COAST LAND AND IT INCLUDES 208,000 ACRES OF PRODUCTIVE CONIFEROUS FORESTS. THEIR BIRDS AND ANIMALS INCLUDE BLACK BEAR DEER, BALD EAGLES, COUGAR, AND MANY OTHER ANIMALS.

25,000 YEARS AGO WOOLLY MAMMOTHS ROAMED HERE AS GLACIERS PLOWED THROUGH AND CREATED LAKE QUINALT. ABOUT 700 MEMBERS ARE EMPLOYED BY THE TRIBE - IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS.

MANY PEOPLE ARE DEVELOPING THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND MAINTAIN MANY OF ITS OWN ENTERPRISES, INLUDING A CASINO AND RESORT. THEY HAVE ABOUT 15 DIFFERENT GUIDE SERVICES FOR HUNTING BEARS FISHING. HISTORICALLY THEY HUNTED THE BLACK BEAR FOR FOOD AND FUR.

IN 1855 THEY CEDED 1/3 OF THEIR LANDS TO THE US GOVERNMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR TRACTS OF LAND. THEY HAVE BUILT A MUSEUM WITH MANY OF THEIR BASKETS ON DISPLAY IN TAHOHAH. THEY ALSO HAVE HISTORIC PHOTOS AS WELL AS CANOES.

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