SANNISH NATION

THIS TRIBE IS THE SUCCESSOR TO THE POWERFUL SAMISH NATION. THEIR TRADITIONAL TERRITORY STRETCHES OVER A WIDE 7 COUNTY REGION IN NW WASHINGTON. THEIR CULTURAL TRADITIONS REMAIN STRONG TODAY. THEIR ANCESTORS TAUGHT THEM ABOUT THE NATURAL SPIRITUAL WORLD AND HOW THEY CANNOT BE SEPARATED, THESE TEACHINGS HELP GUIDE US ON THEIR DAILY LIVES AND OFFER A UNIQUE AND IRREPLACEABLE SYSTEM OF BELIEFS TAKE THEM THROUGH THEIR LIFE JOURNEY.

THEY RESPECTED FOR SPIRITUAL LIFE AND THEIR SKILLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CANOES AND LONG HOUSES. THERE WERE ORIGINALLY OVER 2000 PEOPLE, BUT THEY WERE REDUCED TO 150 PEOPLE AT THE POINT ELLIOT TREATY IN 1855. THEY HAD FOUR UNITS THAT WERE IMPORTANT - THE FAMILY, THE HOUSE GROUP, THE VILLAGES AND THE TRIBE. THEIR MEMBERSHIPS VARIED AS THEY MARRIED OUTSIDE THEIR GROUPINGS. THE TRIBE RELIED ON EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS WHEN THEY HAD BAD TIMES TO ACCESS OTHER FOODS NOT IN THEIR TERRITORY.

THE ELDERS SAID "WHEN THE TIDE IS OUT OUR TABLE WAS SET FOR DINNER." FOR THE MOST PART EVERYTHING WAS AVAILABLE ON THE BEECH OR OCEANS THAT THEY NEEDED TO SURVIVE. IF YOU USED ANYTHING IN NATURE YOU PRAYED BEFORE TAKING IT IN. THEIR VEGETABLES INCLUDED SPROUTS, BULBS, AND ROOTS FROM 12 SPECIES, BERRIES, AND FRUITS OF TWO DOZEN SPECIES. SHELLFISH INCLUDED 12 DIFFERENT MOLLUSKS, SEA URCHINS, SEA URCHINS, AND CRAB. MORE THAN 20 SPECIES OF FISH INCLUDING 5 SPECIES OF PACIFIC SALMON, STEELHEAD TROUT, HERRING, SUCKER, CHUB AND OCCASIONALLY STURGEON. THREE SPECIES OF BIRDS, AND 40 SPECIES OF WATERFOWL, SOME ELK, DEER, AND SEAL WERE EATEN.

BY 1958 THE SAMISH TRIBE PURSUED LAND CHAINS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT FOR LAND THEY TOOK IN 1855. FIVE ISLANDS AND THE AREAS THEY OCCUPIED IN ABORIGINAL TIMES WERE GIVEN BACK TO THEM. I GUESS THEY WERE OFF THE FEDERALLY LISTED TRIBES AND IT TOOK 26 YEARS TO GET COURT PROCEEDINGS TO REGAIN RECOGNITION.

TODAY THE TRIBE OFFERS HOUSING THAT IS ADEQUATE, HEALTH CARE WELLNESS, SOCIAL SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE. CULTURAL RESTORATION AND IMPORTANT CEREMONIES. TODAY THEY CARRIED FORTH THE VALUES AND VISIONS OF A STRONG SQUAMISH INDIAN NATION. IN 1975 THE SAMISH INDIAN FISHING RIGHTS WERE GRANTED IN A TREATY.

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