Throughout history, traditional Native lands have been reduced through governmental actions, such as the 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty and the 1887 General Allotment Act which forced local tribes to relocate to new lands that were ill-suited for survival. In this episode, participants discuss the cultural importance of natural resources, the history of these lands, and what tribes are doing to preserve cultural practices and reclaim “land back” while adjusting to changing environments and industries.

Panelists include:

1. Amber Taylor, Assistant Director/Collections Manager of Historic Preservation, Puyallup Tribe
2. Brandon Reynon, Director of Archives and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Puyallup Tribe
3. Dalton Fry, Director of Natural Resources, Cowlitz Indian Tribe
4. Nettsie Bullchild, Director of Tribal Archives/Nisqually Tribal Historic Preservation Office, Tribal Elder, Nisqually Indian Tribe
5. Warren KingGeorge, Historian, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Learn more at our tribal partners websites and fortnisqually.org.

Resources:

Tribal Websites

1. Puyallup Tribe of Indians https://www.puyalluptribe-nsn.gov/about-our-tribe/historic-preservation/
2. Nisqually Indian Tribe http://www.nisqually-nsn.gov/index.php/heritage/
3. Muckleshoot Indian Tribe https://www.muckleshoot.nsn.us/depts/preservation
4. Cowlitz Indian Tribe https://www.cowlitz.org/natural-resource

Primary Sources

1. Medicine Creek Treaty Minutes (1854): https://catalog.archives.gov/id/117093019
2. (General Allotment Act) Dawes Act (1887): https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/dawes-act
3. (Puyallup Land Act of 1893) Acts of the Fifty-Second Congress of the United States: https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llsl//llsl-c52/llsl-c52.pdf#page=659
4. Land Claims Settlement Agreement, August 27, 1988: https://www.puyalluptribe-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/Land-Claims-Settlement-Agreement.pdf
5. (NAGPRA) Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-104/pdf/STATUTE-104-Pg3048.pdf

Articles

1. Boldt Decision: United States v. State of Washington: https://www.historylink.org/file/21084
2. Cecelia Svinth Carpenter, Before The White Man Came To Nisqually Country: https://www.washingtonhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/beforeWhiteManCame-1.pdf
3. What Are Camas Lilies and Why Are They Important to Tribes?: https://www.washingtontribes.org/what-are-camas-flowers-and-why-are-they-important-to-tribes/