Swinomish Indian Tribal Community

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Coordinates: 48°24′05″N 122°31′38″W / 48.40139°N 122.52722°W / 48.40139; -122.52722
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Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Flag of Swinomish Tribe
Flag
Location of the Swinomish Tribe
Location of the Swinomish Tribe
Tribal headquartersSwinomish Village
Largest settlementSwinomish Village
Demonym(s)Swinomish
Enrolled members1,439
GovernmentFederally recognized tribe
• Chair
Steve Edwards
• Vice-chair
Jeremy Wilbur
LegislatureSwinomish Senate
Domestic dependent nation
• Treaty
1855
• Constitution
January 27, 1936

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, also known as the Swinomish Tribe, is a federally recognized tribe located on Puget Sound in Washington state. The tribe's population is primarily composed of Swinomish, Lower Skagit, Kikiallus, and Samish peoples and their descendants. Other populations on the reservation include the Suquamish and Upper Skagit.[1]

History[edit]

See also: Swinomish people § History, and Swinomish Reservation § History

The origins of the Swinomish Tribe are rooted in the various aboriginal communities which make up the population of the Swinomish Tribe, including the Swinomish, Samish, Kikiallus, and Lower Skagit. The ancestral bands of the tribe originated in the Skagit and Samish river valleys and nearby coastal areas, including Fidalgo, Whidbey, Camano, and the San Juan islands.[2]

In 1855, the ancestral bands gathered at Point Elliott (Lushootseed: bək̓ʷəɬtiwʔ) along with many other tribes. They were party to the Treaty of Point Elliott.[2] Under the terms of the treaty, the Swinomish Reservation was established for the tribes in the area.[3] The northern boundary of the reservation was changed in 1873 by an executive order,[4] which began a boundary dispute between the Swinomish Tribe and the United States. To this day, the Swinomish Tribe asserts their claim on the land which was depicted in original treaty maps.[5][6]

In 1971, the Indian Claims Commission denied a Swinomish petition to alter the boundaries of the reservation. The Swinomish Tribe had requested the northern boundary of the reservation to be restored as was promised under the Treaty of Point Elliott, even though the reservation had been slightly enlarged by the 1873 declaration changing the border.[1]

On July 6, 1972, the Swinomish Tribe was awarded $29,000 by the Indian Claims Commission, in return for the land that they had ceded. The Commission determined that the United States had paid the Swinomish an "unconscionably low" amount, and the Swinomish Tribe requested the difference between the amount already paid and the value of the land according to today's market value.[7]

In 2008, the Tribe produced a documentary called March Point, which follows three Swinomish teenagers investigating the effects of the oil refineries that operate on their lands.[8]

Government and politics[edit]

The Swinomish Tribe and its constitution were established on January 27, 1936, following the Indian Reorganization Act of 1935, which encouraged tribes to reform their governments.[1]

The Swinomish Tribe is governed by the Swinomish Senate, an 11 member, democratically-elected body.[2][9] Senators serve staggered five-year terms. Every year there is an election for two seats, and every five years, there is an election for five seats.[2] Each senator serves as the chair and vice-chair of at least one board or committee.[10]

The Senate governs through twenty Senate committees, as well as nine boards and commissions, established by ordinances and inter-tribal organizations. The committees do not have the authority to govern in and of themselves, but instead make recommendations to the Senate. The boards and committees operate independently from the Swinomish Tribe and Swinomish Senate.[10]

The General Council is the public body of the Swinomish Tribe's citizenry. The council is composed of all voting-age citizens. Each year, the General Council meets in Februrary to vote in the elections for the Swinomish Senate and sets the annual goals for the Swinomish Tribe.[10]

Current membership in the Swinomish Senate[9]
Position Name Term
Chair Steve Edwards 2022-2027
Vice-chair Alana Quintasket 2020-2025
Secretary Brian Porter 2021-2026
Treasurer Barbara James 2023-2028
Senators Sophie Bailey 2020-2025
Greg Edwards 2021-2026
Tandy Wilbur 2021-2026
Aurelia Bailey 2022-2027
Jeremy Wilbur 2021-2026
Bruce James Jr. 2024-2029
Rodney John 2024-2029

The Swinomish Tribe is governed by the chair of the Swinomish Senate. The chair, vice-chair, and secretary are elected by the members of the Swinomish Senate. The current chair of the Swinomish Tribe is Steve Edwards, who was elected in 2022.[2] Prior to Edwards, the Chair was Brian Cladoosby, who also served as the 21st president of the National Congress of American Indians.[11] Cladoosby succeeded Robert W. Joe in 1997.[12] Robert W. Joe was elected in 1978.[13]

History of the Swinomish Tribe's leadership
Name Term
Robert W. Joe 1978-1997
Brian Cladoosby 1997-?
Steve Edwards 2022-2027

The Tribe's headquarters is in Swinomish Village.

The Swinomish Medical Center provides healthcare services for local Native Americans. Opened in 2000, the clinic building also houses a fitness center and diabetes program.[14]

Swinomish Reservation[edit]

Sign at the entrance to the Swinomish Indian Reservation
Fidalgo Island with the Swinomish Indian Reservation in the background
Main article: Swinomish Reservation

The Swinomish Indian Reservation is the reservation and land body of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. The reservation is located on Puget Sound, on the southeastern side of Fidalgo Island in Skagit County, Washington.[15] It is located on the Swinomish Channel, across from La Conner, Washington.[7]

The reservation was established in 1855 by the Treaty of Point Elliot.[16] Today, the reservation is about 15 square miles (39 km2; 9,600 acres) in area,[17] however the borders of the reservation are disputed by the Swinomish Tribe. The total reservation population according to the 2000 census was 2,664. 23 percent of the population identified as being of full Native American ancestry.[citation needed]

The Seattle and Northern Railroad Company constructed a rail line over the reservation in 1889 without permission. The line is operated by BNSF Railway under a 1991 easement agreement. In 2023, BNSF spilled 3,100 gallons of diesel onto the Swinomish Reservation.[18] Prominent sites on the Swinomish Reservation include:

  • Swadabs Park, on Swinomish Channel: The park features three pavilions resembling woven cedar hats, interpretive panels, and a native plant garden. The park was developed for the 2011 Canoe Journey/Paddle to Swinomish. Canoe races also take place here in the channel.
  • Kukutali Preserve: the first Tribal State Park in the history of the United States to be co-owned and jointly managed by a federally recognized Native Nation and a state government. The preserve is entirely on the Swinomish Reservation and encompasses 83 acres (34 ha) spanning three islands, with more than two miles (3.2 km) of natural shoreline, and is adjacent to 38 acres (15 ha) of Swinomish-owned tidelands.

Demographics[edit]

The Swinomish Tribe has 1,439 enrolled members according to their own figures. The majority of the population lives in the community of Swinomish Village on reservation lands.[7] Another large percent of members reside off the reservation, in nearby Skagit County.[19]

Membership statistics by year
Year Number
1909 268[7]
1937 285[7]
1985 624[7]
2002 778[7]
c. 2024 1,439[19]

Most members of the community are Catholic.[8]

Culture[edit]

English is commonly spoken by Tribal members. Some elders speak Swinomish (also known as Skagit), a Lushootseed language that is part of the Central Salish language family.[20] Some also spoke Samish, another Central Salish language.[21]

The Swinomish traditionally cultivated clam gardens and are reviving the practice to build climate resilience. Global warming and its effects, such as ocean acidification, affect the development of shells of marine animals vital to Swinomish food supply. As such, the Swinomish consider Indigenous health indicators a metric of climate change.[22] In 2022, the Swinomish built the first traditional clam garden in the United States in 200 years at Kiket Island. The clam gardens can produce four times as many clams than unterraced beaches.[23]

The Swinomish hold the annual Swinomish Festival on Memorial Day. The festival includes stick-and-ball games, dancing, and a salmon bake. Additionally, the tribe celebrates the annual Treaty Days Celebration on the weekend nearest to January 22. They also hold the traditional First Salmon Ceremony each year, celebrating the beginning of the fishing season and protecting the fishermen of the community.[24]

Economy and services[edit]

The Swinomish Tribe has been heavily involved in commerical fishing. They have had conflicts with the federal government over fishing rights throughout the 20th century.[8] Their fish harvests have dropped by more than 80% in the last two decades due to overly-high temperatures in the Skagit River. The Swinomish Tribe announced in Februrary 2024 their plans to sue the EPA for failing to effectively reduce stream temperatures in the Skagit River watershed.[25]

The Swinomish Tribe owns and operates many businesses and services. The Swinomish Fish Company was built in 1973, and provides employment for many members of the community. In 1994, the Swinomish opened the Swinomish Northern Lights Casino in Anacortes. They also operate the Swinomish Casino & Lodge on Padilla Bay, Swinomish Golf Links, near Highway 20, and the Swinomish RV Park, on the Swinomish Channel.[26] The tribe also operates the Swinomish gas station.[8]

The tribe offers educational, childcare, and health services as well. The Swinomish Tribe built a 1,375 square feet (127.7 m2) healthcare center, the Swinomish Tribal Health Center.[8]

The tribe belongs to the Skagit River Cooperative, which was formed in 1976. The goals of the cooperative are to regulate and enhance fishing in the Skagit River watershed.[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Ruby, Brown & Collins 2010, p. 334.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Who We Are". Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "The Swinomish People". Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Ruby, Brown & Collins 2010, p. 332.
  5. ^ "Swinomish Reservation". City of Anacortes. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Swinomish Reservation". Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Ruby, Brown & Collins 2010, p. 333.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Ruby, Brown & Collins 2010, p. 335.
  9. ^ a b "Swinomish Tribal Senate". Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Government". Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Kauri, Vidya (October 23, 2015). "Wash. Tribe Chairman Re-Elected As NCAI President". Law360. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  12. ^ Cantwell, Brian J. (June 30, 2015). "Swinomish leader Brian Cladoosby fights for salmon and sovereignty". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  13. ^ Walker, Richard (June 30, 2011). "Robert W. Joe, Former Swinomish Chairman, Passes". Indian Country Media Network. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  14. ^ "Swinomish Tribe." Archived September 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. Retrieved September 16, 2013. A dental clinic is located nearby.
  15. ^ Pritzker 2001, p. 202.
  16. ^ Ruby, Robert H. (1992). A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 231. ISBN 9780806124797.
  17. ^ "Swinomish Tribe". Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. February 9, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Breda, Isabella (March 27, 2023). "Judge rules BNSF intentionally violated terms of easement with Swinomish tribe". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Community". Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  20. ^ "Skagit." Ethnologue. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  21. ^ "Salish, Straits", Ethnologue. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  22. ^ Matsumoto, Kendall (February 2022). "Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change: A Makah Tribal Leader Seeks Solutions to an Ocean Out of Balance". United States National Marine Sanctuary. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 6, 2022. For instance, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community of western Washington has incorporated Indigenous health indicators into their climate change assessment process, which allows them to understand how climate-caused shellfish depletion is negatively impacting community health. Furthermore, Swinomish and First Nations of Canada are now reintroducing clam gardens, a traditional maricultural practice, which will ensure access to traditional food and harvest practices.
  23. ^ Ryan, John (September 3, 2022). "Swinomish Tribe builds modern clam garden, reviving practice". AP News. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  24. ^ Ruby, Brown & Collins 2010, p. 335-336.
  25. ^ Smith, Helen (February 26, 2024). "Swinomish Tribe saw an 80% drop in the salmon harvest. Now they plan to sue the EPA". King 5. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  26. ^ "Swinomish Casino & Lodge". 500nations.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

48°24′05″N 122°31′38″W / 48.40139°N 122.52722°W / 48.40139; -122.52722

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