Muckleshoot (tribe)
The Muckleshoot tribe is a Coast Salish Indigenous nation located primarily around the White and Green Rivers in Washington State. Descendants of several nations, including the Duwamish and Suquamish, the Muckleshoot people have a rich cultural heritage characterized by complex ceremonial practices and a deep connection to their maritime and riverine environment. Historically, they made decisions through group consensus, often guided by the wisdom of elders and the spiritual insights of shamans.
Established in 1857, the Muckleshoot Reservation was created after the Puget Sound War, although many tribe members did not relocate there. The tribe has been proactive in asserting its rights and preserving its culture, notably through the establishment of the Indian Shaker Church and various business enterprises, including the Muckleshoot Casino. In recent years, they have focused on cultural preservation initiatives, such as the Muckleshoot Indian Museum and educational collaborations with organizations like the Seattle Aquarium. Additionally, the Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project promotes traditional foods and sustainable farming practices, while the tribe continues to provide essential social services to its community members.
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Muckleshoot (tribe)
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Northwest Coast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Salishan
- PRIMARY LOCATION: White and Green Rivers, Washington
- POPULATION SIZE: 4,391 (2020 Decennial Census; Muckleshoot Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, WA); 3,143 (2024 Muckleshoot Indian Tribe)
The Muckleshoot of the Salishan language family are a Coast Salish Indigenous nation made up of descendants of several nations from around the Green and White River drainage basins, including the Duwamish, Suquamish, Skopamish, Smulkamish, and Dothliuk, among others. They had complex ceremonialism, part of which regulated their yearly pattern of moving to obtain subsistence, which was basically maritime and riverine in orientation. They believed in guardian spirits and used shamans for curing, making predictions, and maintaining social control. Decisions were made by group consensus and the advice of elders.
The Muckleshoot Reservation was established in 1857 by executive order after the 1855–1856 Puget Sound War, but many did not move to the reservation. In the early 1880s, the Indian Shaker Church was established as a reaction against the US government’s “peace policy” of 1869, which had favored Roman Catholic missionaries among the Muckleshoot.
The Muckleshoot established their own business enterprises, planning department, Indigenous government, and school system on the reservation. In the late 1970s, the Muckleshoot sued for damages caused by a hydroelectric plant's diversion of water from the reservation and its fishery. In the twenty-first century, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe continued to work to preserve its traditions, language, and culture through projects such as the Muckleshoot Indian Museum and various public education programs throughout the Seattle area. They ran the Muckleshoot Casino, among other business ventures. The Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project promoted traditional foods and Indigenous farming practices. In partnership with the Seattle Aquarium, the Muckleshoot collaborated to extend marine science education opportunities. Finally, the Muckleshoot continued to provide vital social services to its members.
Bibliography
"About Muckleshoot Heritage & Culture." Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, www.muckleshoot.nsn.us/about. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
Johansen, Bruce E., and Willard Bill. Up from the Ashes: Nation Building at Muckleshoot. Seattle Publishing, 2014.
"The Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project." Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, americanindian.si.edu/nk360/pnw-history-culture/muckleshoot. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"Muckleshoot Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, WA." US Census, data.census.gov/profile/Muckleshoot‗Reservation‗and‗Off-Reservation‗Trust‗Land,‗WA?g=2500000US2375. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
Ruby, Robert H., et al. A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. 3rd ed., U of Oklahoma P, 2014.
"Seattle Aquarium Announces New Partnership with Muckleshoot Tribe." Seattle Aquarium, 6 Aug. 2024, www.seattleaquarium.org/press-release/seattle-aquarium-announces-new-partnership-with-muckleshoot-tribe. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"Tribal History." Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, mtga.us/tribal-history. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.
"Tribal Sovereignty - Tribal Enterprises." Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, www.muckleshoot.nsn.us/tribal-enterprises. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.